NOVEL INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1925, Page 2

NOVEL INDUSTRY.

TURTLE-HUNTING. SYDNEY, April 3. Talcs as strange as De Rougcmont told are being staged on North-West Islet, about 2!) miles north-east of Cape Cnpricon (Queensland) by the employees of an enterprising company which is exploiting commercially tile turtles which visit the island. The world scoffed at Do Rougcmont when he related stories of rides oil the hacks of giant turtles. Hut truth is stranger than even Do RougemunL’s fiction. Curious travellers to the island, which hits an area of only 300 acres, have seen a lOst man carried across a wide strip of bench ami into the sea. The island’s wide spacious beaches are particularly favoured by the turtles which land in myriads, make their nests and indulge in an orgy of egglaying. Knowing the weakness of thousands of people for turtle-soup, a company was formed to tin and [dace the soup on the market, ft lias now extensive sales in Australia and New Zealand, and shortly will seek wider markets abroad. Last year the output was oO.OIK) tins. Twentv-two men were employed when the season was in lull swing and as the supply of turtles is inexhaustible, the company expects to increase this number. In October each year, the female turtle bears the call of the beaches, and staggers up their sandy sides. Icating a track its wide as that of the wheel of a traction engine. She digs cue bole, slightly larger than herself, and lie-ii nnotlier perhanx even a

third. In one of these she casually lays her eggs, about 100 or 150 at a time. These are covered with sand and the sun hatches them. The traffic between) the bench heights aiul the sea becomes alarming when the young turtles break from their narrow cells. A turtle’s early life is fraught with many dangers. These “ toddlers ’’ leave their samlv cradles and resp-. nd to the call of live sea as soon as they are hatched. If they escape being snatched no by seagulls and other hungry birds, they often become dainty morsels for sharks and other finny enemies waiting off the beaches lor their advent. So great are their numbers, however, that despite the depredations ol natural enemies they return to the benches of Northwest Islet year after year in ever-increasing force. The island is oval-shaped and is set at the north-west of a long straggling reef. It is miigiiifieenllv wooded and teems with bird hie. Before the war a Captain Owens went in for turtlehunting and had a small plant on the island. Subsequently it was deserted by man and LID domestic fowls were left oil it. These have now increased to thousands and have become wild, the only way to secure them for the table being with a shot-gun.