I've known of people to do the same for snapping turtles. They would put the thing in a no. 3 washtub and run fresh water over it for a couple weeks to "clean him out". I don't guess it's any worse than what they do to lobsters.

If you've ever been to New Orleans and had turtle soup as an appetizer you know how wonderful it can be. I'll never clean and cook a turtle, but I will stoop to enjoying it when i'm visiting the Big Easy.

May God bless America and those who defend her.