NO MORE TURTLE SOUP 379 



efficient firearms. The musk ox is consequently now 

 between two lines of fire — that of the white hunter on the 

 south, and of the Eskimo on the north. 



From regions far remote from the Arctic complaints 

 come of an even more reckless destruction of helpless 

 animals. Perhaps our legislators may feel some personal 

 concern in this case, since it is neither more nor less than 

 the approaching extinction of the turtle, the true green 

 turtle of City fame, to eat which at the invitation of City 

 dignitaries is one of the few duties of a legislator. Both 

 the green turtles and the tortoise-shell turtles are being 

 destroyed indiscriminately on the coast of Florida and 

 in many West Indian Islands by brutal, careless, " white " 

 beach-combers and idlers. By proper care of the eggs 

 and young the turtles could easily be increased enormously 

 in number, and a regulated capture of them be made to 

 yield a legitimate profit. But neither the United States 

 Government, nor our own, take any steps to restrain 

 promiscuous slaughter of the turtles which come to the 

 shore in order to lay their eggs. Soon the City Fathers 

 will have to do without the " green fat " and their 

 wives without tortoise-shell combs. It will serve them 

 right. Such destitution in these — and, be it noted, in 

 many other matters — will deservedly fall upon those who 

 ignorantly, wilfully, and contentedly neglect to take 

 steps to understand and to control the withering blight 

 created by modern man wherever he sets his foot. 



