Narrative Of The Overland Expedition Of The Messrs. Jardine, From Rockhampton To Cape York, Northern Queensland By Frank Jardine And Alexander Jardine
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The Day Was
Very Calm And Warm, And The Canoe Was Allowed To Drift With The
Current, Which Runs Very Strong On These Shores.
A small turtle was
seen, and the sucking fish was put into the water.
At first it swam
lazily about, apparently recovering the strength which it had lost by
removal from its native element; but presently it swam slowly in the
direction of the turtle till out of sight; in a very short time the
line was rapidly carried out, there was a jerk, and the turtle was
fast. The line was handled gently for two or three minutes, the
steersman causing the canoe to follow the course of the turtle with
great dexterity. It was soon exhausted and hauled up to the canoe.
It was a small turtle, weighing a little under forty pounds (40
lbs.), but the sucking fish adhered so tenaciously to it as to raise
it from the ground when held up by the tail, and this some time after
being taken out of the water. A strong breeze coming on, the canoe
had to seek the shore without any more sport. I have seen turtle
weighing more than one hundred (100) pounds, which had been taken in
the manner described. Though large numbers of the hawksbill turtles
are taken by the Cape York natives, it is very difficult to procure
the shell from them; they are either too lazy to save it, or if they
do so, it is bartered to the Islanders of Torres' Straits, who use it
for making masks and other ornaments.
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