Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1892 — Catching Terrapin. [ARTICLE]

Catching Terrapin.

In the shoal waters along the coast south of Cape Hcnlopen terrapin are caught In various ways. Dredges dragged along In the wake of a sailing vessel pick them up. Nets stretched across some narrow arm or river or My entangle tho feet of any stray terrapin in their meshes; but It requires the constant attendance of the fisherman to save the catch from drowning. In the winter, in the deeper water, the terrapin rise from their muddy quarters on mild, sunny days and crawl along the bottom. They are then taken by tongs, their whereabouts being often betrayed by bubbles. Turtles will rise at any noise, and usually tho fisherman only claps his hands, though ea<fh hunter has his own way of attracting the terrapin. One hunter whom 1 saw, uttered a queer, guttural noise that seemed to rise from his boots. Whatever the noise, all the turtles within hearing—whether terrapin or snapper —will put their heads above water. Both are welcome and are quickly sold to roarketmen. Tho snapper slowly appears and disappears, leaving scarcely a ripple; and the hunter cautiously approaching usually takes him by the tail. The terrapin, on tho contrary, Is quick, and will descend in an oblique direction, so that a hand-net is jjeeded unless ho happens to come up near by. If he Is near enough the man jumps for him. The time for hunting is the still hour at either sunrise or sunset.—St. N icholas.