86 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



other places. The results of these investigations have been set forth 

 by Professor Hay in a special report to be issued by this Bureau. 



THE DIAMOND-BACK TERRAPIN. 



During the summer of 1903 Professor Hay also continued his studies 

 of the terrapin of Chesapeake Bay, these investigations having been 

 undertaken for the purpose of determining what, if anything, might 

 be done to preserve this important fishery. Recent observations of 

 the terrapin market indicated a serious decrease in the size and num- 

 ber of these animals sold and an increasing difficulty on the part of 

 the dealers in securing terrapin of commercial size. The native Ches- 

 apeake Bay terrapin had become alarmingly scarce and the firms 

 engaged in the business were securing much of their stock from the 

 Carolinas and southward. 



The experiments carried on by Professor Hay were directed chiefly 

 toward a study of the life history of the terrapin and the discovery of 

 proper methods of caring for them while confined in pounds or other 

 artificial inclosures. Little difficulty is experienced in retaining them 

 in inclosures or in feeding them, but conditions under which they will 

 breed freely while in such inclosures have not yet been found, and 

 difficulty has been experienced in providing proper conditions for the 

 development of the few eggs that are produced. Another difficulty 

 has been to retain the young hatched in the pounds; while yet very 

 small they frequently disappear and can not be found. The obstacles 

 to success, however, do not seem insurmountable, and it is believed 

 that a satisfactory method of terrapin culture will soon be developed. 



In early September the operations were transferred to Crisfield, 

 where, at the pound belonging to Messrs. Tawes & Riggin, there 

 was an opportunity to study a number of species of diamond-back ter- 

 rapin and their behavior in captivity. It was ascertained that four 

 well-marked species and one subspecies of the genus Malaclemmys are 

 now being sold for food, and that all of these can be profitably im- 

 pounded in Chesapeake waters. As the entire lot of terrapin marked 

 during the summer of 1902 was found to have lost the tags, another 

 effort was made toward ascertaining the rate of growth by tagging 

 over 100 individuals and releasing them in this pound. Early in the 

 spring of 1904 the Bureau decided to establish a small experimental 

 pound of its own, and for this purpose selected a spot on the Choptank 

 River near Lloyds, Md. Six pens, about 20 by 40 feet, were built 

 and stocked with the best Chesapeake terrapin. An abundance of 

 flowing water and food is assured, and there are sand beds and sunning 

 banks extensive enough for every purpose. It is hoped that by the 

 end of another season definite information will have been obtained 

 regarding the possibility of artificially propagating these vanishing 

 animals. 



