Several authors have mentioned softshells as a food item much sought after by man. The commercial value of these turtles has been summarized by Clark and Southall (1920:15-16). Softshells are consumed in quantity only in small towns near the place of capture. They are found only occasionally in the markets of large cities because the turtles are little known and the palatability of their flesh is unappreciated. Also, they do not stand shipment so well as other turtles, and they are "not so meaty as the snapper; so there is more waste" (Clark and Southall, _loc. cit._). Little and Keller (1937:221) reported living individuals for sale at the market in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua; however my inquiry at markets in Juarez in the summer of 1959 disclosed no evidence of recent sale of soft-shelled turtles. In the southeastern United States the demand is perhaps greater than in other regions. I have noted softshells in the market at New Orleans, and Oliver (1955:19) has mentioned the sale of "some 146,600 pounds" in one recent year in Florida. Over most of their range, however, there probably is no general demand for softshells and no special efforts are made to capture them. Softshells have been raised successfully on "turtle farms" in Japan (Mitsukuri, 1905). True (1893:152) wrote that "The eggs also are considered very excellent." Softshells generally are condemned by fishermen because of the mistaken belief that they are detrimental to fish populations. Food of softshells is principally crawfish and insects. Fish comprise a small proportion of the diet (frequency 1.9% in Michigan, Lagler, 1943: Tab. 9). Most of the fishes eaten seem to be small minnows. Probably fish would comprise a larger percentage of the diet if they could be caught. I doubt that a softshell can pursue and capture a healthy fish in natural waters. Recently dead fish are eaten and perhaps fish eggs, and senile and decrepit fishes. There is no evidence that soft-shelled turtles are active predators on any kind of fish. Of course in congested areas such as ponds of fish hatcheries, it is desirable to eliminate the turtles. The known food habits of soft-shelled turtles suggest that they compete with game fishes for food, but there is no information on the intensity of competition (Lagler, _op. cit._:305).