Jackson County Banner in Black River Falls, Wisconsin

The Turtle Folklore and Shell Trade from Dampier to Port Roy

A miscellany excerpt surveys sea turtles, their shells used for snuff boxes and combs, the biology of green and hawksbill turtles, nesting habits on tropical sands, egg counts, and harvesting methods. It recounts Dampier’s notes on turtle grass beds near Callipagos, the anatomy of the shell and buckler, and historic fishing practices including harpooning, shell processing, and their culinary value. It also mentions a later anecdote from a western editor and various curiosities.