AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[October, 
CATCHING TURTLES ON THE COAST OF FLORIDA. 
other parts, are well adapted to the “sea-faring life” 
they lead, and though they move rapidly in the water, 
they are exceedingly clumsy, indeed almost helpless on 
land. There are a number of these Sea Turtles besides 
the one called Green, some of them growing to an enor¬ 
mous size; some live on other ani¬ 
mals, while others, like the Green 
Turtle, feed solely upon plants. The 
smaller engraving will give you the ap¬ 
pearance of this turtle, which varies in 
size from a few pounds in weight up 
to 300 to 500 lbs. or more. The under 
part of this turtle is white, while the 
upper part is usually a light brown ; 
the name “ Green ” is said to be from 
the color of the fat, rather than from 
that of the animal itself. These turtles 
are generally to be found in the mar¬ 
kets of sea-board cities, where they 
are kept in tanks of salt water, and fed 
upon cabbage-leaves and other vegeta¬ 
bles. The Green Turtle belongs to the 
waters of the warmer parts of this 
Continent; it is especially abundant 
in the West Indies, and on the 
coast of Florida; now and then one 
has been taken in the waters of 
New York Bay, but such have only 
strayed or drifted from home. The 
flesh of this turtle is by many much 
esteemed as food, but it is chiefly 
used to make Green Turtle Soup. The turtles are 
generally caught when they go on shore to lay their 
eggs, though they are sometimes taken at sea; we have 
seen the great fellows fast asleep on the surface, and 
when waked up by the approach of the steamer, get out 
of the way in a lively manner; when sleeping thus, 
they are easily caught in a net. The large engrav¬ 
ing, given above, shows how the turtle-hunters catch 
them, it being a scene taken on the coast of Florida. 
The turtles leave the water on moonlight nights, and 
after carefully looking to see that there is no danger, 
slowly crawl about, to find a proper place; they then, by 
working with their hind flippers, make a hole in the 
sand about two feet across, and each deposits about 200 
eggs. Their eggs, like those of our land-tortoises, have 
a soft parchment-like shell, with a little dent at one side; 
they are about the same weight as a hen’s egg, and are 
highly esteemed as food. Though the turtle neglects 
her eggs, she is very careful in covering them, patting 
the sand down upon them with her flippers and theD 
bringing the weight of her body 
down over the spot. Though very shy 
when they first leave the water, when 
they get fairly at. work at their nests 
they do not care for the presence of 
strangers. Then is the hunters’ time ; 
they can go directly up to the turtles 
without disturbing them, turn them 
upon their backs, and they are caught. 
When thrown upon its back this 
turtle is unable to turn over; the poor 
creature is quite helpless, and must 
remain until it is carried off. It re¬ 
quires some skill to turn over a large 
turtle, as the animal makes a great 
struggle, and if one is a new hand 
at it, he is very likely te be bruised 
by blows from the powerful flip¬ 
pers, or be blinded by the showers of 
sand that are thrown up in the strug¬ 
gle. The turtle-hunters have pens 
placed where the tide will flow into 
them, where they keep great numbers 
until they have a chance to send them 
to market. A great many are sent 
to Europe. The turtle that furnishes 
the beautiful shell of which combs and ornamental arti¬ 
cles are made, is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 
The great Loggerhead Turtle is sometimes found as far 
north as Virginia; when full-grown it weighs 1,500 to 
1,000 lbs., but is of little use except for the oil it yields. 
THE GREEN TURTLE. 
