MODE OP CATCHING TUETLE. 21 



degree of fineness with a sharp edged C3Tena shell, 

 then twisted and laid up in three strands. 



Turtle forms an important article of food, and 

 four different kinds are disting-uished at Cape York 

 and the Prince of "Wales Islands. Three of these 

 can be identified as the Green, the Hawkshill, and 

 the Log'g'erhead species, and the fourth is a small 

 one which I never saw. This last, I was informed 

 by Gi'om, is fished for in the following- extraordinary 

 manner. A live sucking- fish {^Eclieneis Remora), 

 having" previously been secured by a, line passed round 

 the tail, is thrown into the water in certain places 

 known to be suitable for the purpose ; the fish while 

 swimming" about makes fast by its sucker to any 

 turtle of this small kind which it may chance to 

 encounter, and both are hauled in tog"ether ! 



The g"reen turtle is of such consequence to the 

 natives that they have distinguished by a special 

 name taken from the animal itself {sulangi from 

 s'dlur) the season of the year when it is most 

 plentiful ) this, at Cape York, usually extends fi'om 

 about the middle of October until the end of No- 

 vember, but the limits are not constant. During 

 the season they are to be seen floating about on the 

 surface of the water, often in pairs, male and female 

 together. A few are caught at night on the sandy 

 beaches, but the greater number are captured in the 

 water. The canoes engaged in turtUng, besides 

 going about in the day, are often sent out on calm 

 moonlight nights. When a turtle is perceived, it is 



