| Show kepulis once the food of slaves are now scarce at 50 a dozen it Is difficult to realize that terra pin were once so plentiful that slave holders around chesapeake bay had to be prohibited by law from inflicting them upon their bondmen more than three times a week on the ground 0 cruelty the female terrapin are preferred because of the richness the agga egga im part to the sauce they range in price from 50 to a dozen says what to eat and are hard to get at that price most of these come from long la land since the chesapeake bay dia mond backs became so exceedingly scarce that they arp used principally to supply the demand 0 private houses next bet are the jersey turtles but they are not numerous below north carolina whose best terrapin average 50 a dozen the quality deteriorates rapidly and prices naturally corre spond the gulf terrapin are large la size seldom measuring less than seven inches in length but the flesh is coarse in texture and flavor these sell as low as 12 a dozen most of the terrapin dishes found in the west are substitutes the bones of the real terrapin are bought by the pound cunningly mixed with veal and other meats and palmed off on suspecting public for something like a dollar a portion connoisseurs in the matter of terra pla often order their supply direct from the chesapeake country in the tall and put them in the cellar until the time of their oblation Is at hand the wants of n are few and easily supplied an empty barrel or a tub of salt water affords them shel ter and an meal of vege table s ves to beep them la flesh and spirit |
