Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-02-19
iuirator. ror tbe coIor,do Pl,e...

A contributor to the Yuma Sentinel
 has this to say about new industry for Yuma county:
 Having noticed the praisw0rthy efforts ! of tle press of this Territory in general, and Yuma county in particular, towards encouraging agricultural, manufacturing and other enterprises, ] thought the Iol- lowing suggestion might be of seryce. Do not believe for moment that this
 communication emanates from the fish commission, for the reason, that my''h1b- by is more Of a reptile than a fish, in
 other words l propose, that some enter priEug citizen of Yuma county should
 go into the business Of growing an ali
 gator ranch. The alligator is a fruitful source of revenue, easily reared and very
 prolific The Gi.a bottom, say a few miles above ROdOndO's ranch would be
 a good place to commence operations
 upon. Take a piece of ground about
 one half mile long and one quarter wide.
 let there be about twenty feet of tine
 width m the river, build a strong pole
 fence, and you are ready business. Plant
 say fifty eggs, near the water, in the
 sand ln seven weeks the sun wall
 have hatOhed them, and the alligator
 will begin prospecting. The fence will
 tend to keep them at home after they
 are gr1Wu- Alhgat0rs will eat most any-
 thing. from puppy to a api .kauinny. The
 pony fish that thrive m the Gila will
 tickle his palate, and the rancLer could
 easily procure all the dogs ne wanted in
 Yuma. at no cost except labor. The
 great saUrian Is partly amphibious in his
 habits, and loves to float like a log in the
 stll water. baskIng in the generous sun
 light Firing of this, he delights il
 stroilmg on the banks Of a stream, iu search of health and-stray pigs, which. m fact, is another reason for a fence
 Ihe alligator Is perfectly harmless. and will never trouble people of the Caucasian race. But it is as well not Co SO LOO near a full grown bird. as he is of @ nervous temperament. and that huge. boay tail flps around pretty i've ly. After years patient waiting, the energetic farmer reaps rich harvest.
 He must have @ gaze fXed co lis farm yard. and let .Le gate open mto a long and nauaF pen. Then Eiye notice iu the pspers that l.s pets are ready for public attention. The agile spor.s wil. C0u-rCslr1 5t his place oi bus ness; he A 'ls a pHze for each reptile killed. About one man u lVe hundred can xii, au ai.i- ! gator, au- before one IS shot he has re- ! aiized a comfortable stake. Eycr "5ird" killed is oi value; the hide Is worth from ten Co twelve ao.iIr-; then there IS the ! musk, for perfume. o;i .equa. to bears | od the claws for leuelry, and the car ! cass, feed for pigs.
 The expense O! starting place of this ! kind is nominal The eggs are a iilile . larger than turkey eggs, and cost abou, . tao doilars per dozen. The agricultural . editor cl the New Orleans Times Demo | crat can give the necessary address for the purchase Ut the same. have enter ! ed into a.l these details SD tha, any one . really desiring Go go ut5 business can see @ good opening. Il ] was a young mla, rt would tc my first start iu life: but the -ngw5 of many winters have whlteued uv head. and ] do not feel equal Co tHe task. il my humble suz- -esr1-5 slsl.a be ui interest. and cyen- lul-.y of profit Go some. ] vi,l rest con tent The acme uI any ambition Is t1 see .ae valley af ,he Colorado white with he rpcg-d cotton. and Jagged by the bealtelu- sugar cane. whilst iu the dis ,aucc 8 sea of green and wlyirE wheat ! will cnCLau- .le eye. And Co see upon Inc banks af the G.la the ma aies-ic and l graceful ostrich, and the mysterious .0pen-fared alh-a-o-:-this With the | picturesque farm houses, on the mesas. ! would make picture aha, people would travel hundreds Cf miles t0 see.
 1T this paper i5 oi any service Go our Fish Commissioner, they are welcome to sm5ody it in their report on Arizona Fisheries.