52 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
period of time in this climate and does not last so long as wood. Other metals and 
enamel are regarded as rather too expensive for economical use. 
Table 20. — Average size of terrapin fed during their first winter 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1914. 
1915. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1919. 
1919. 
1919. 
1920. 
1921. 
1922. 
1923. 
1924. 
1925. 
1926. 
1927. 
Brood 
When measured 
Average 
Number length in 
measured millime- 
Remarks 
ters 
... May 10, 1911.... 
Apr. 23, 1912.... 
... May 5, 1913 
... Apr. 29, 1914.... 
... May 24, 1915.... 
...do 
... Mar. 15, 1916.... 
do 
... May 17-25, 1917. 
... May 15, 1918.... 
... May 11, 1920.... 
do 
do 
... May 13, 1921..., 
... May 16, 1922.... 
... May 23, 1923.... 
... May 16, 1924.... 
... May 11, 1925... 
... May 13, 1926... 
... May 12, 1927.... 
... May 7, 1928 
173 
39.7 
216 
30.9 
463 
31.8 
504 
31.0 
351 
32.9 
376 
31.5 
662 
33.8 
613 
29.9 
1,040 
39.2 
1,045 
31. 1 
290 
33.7 
169 
34.9 
158 
36.0 
1, 994 
31.8 
2,101 
31.7 
2,132 
32.2 
2,054 
30.9 
1,651 
32.3 
2,019 
32.4 
2,180 
31.7 
2,583 
30.8 
Average. 
32.4 
Fed fresh fish and oysters. 
Fed salted fish. 
Fed fresh fish and oysters. 
Fed salted fish. 
Hybrids, Texas and Carolina terrapins. 
Offspring domestic stock. 
Offspring wild stock. 
FOOD 
The following foods have been supplied: Fresh and salted fish, oysters, clams, 
and crabs. Vegetables have been offered at different times but were not eaten. A 
comparison of the utility of the various foods can not yet be given because of the 
unequal distribution of heat in the terrapin house. It is pointed out elsewhere that 
the greatest amount of growth almost invariably was made by the terrapins nearest 
the stove. This is true, in a measure, regardless of the food supplied or other treat- 
ment given. This factor, therefore, evidently is an important one, and a comparison 
of the rate of growth with respect to the foods supplied is not a fair one unless the 
animals were similarly situated with respect to the source of heat. As far as possible 
such comparisons have been made but are considered of only limited value, and only 
general discussions are given. It remains for future investigation to determine the 
actual value of the various foods that are available and that seem suitable, and that 
can be done only when a house becomes available in which uniform temperatures 
can be provided. 
Fresh fish was used much more extensively than the other foods that have been 
mentioned, because (next to salted fish) it was the most convenient and economical 
to use and the growth attained apparently was exceeded slightly only when oysters 
were fed. Salted fish (mullet) was not taken readily. In fact, terrapins that had been 
feeding on fresh food had to be starved for a week or two before they would take salted 
fish. It is not surprising that animals fed with this apparently distasteful food grew 
slowly. Crabs appear to be a good food and are taken readily, but they are so difficult 
to get during at least a part of the winter that it was found impracticable to feed them 
continuously. Clams are taken readily but have not been supplied over long periods of 
