The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-10-04
ALLIGATOR FISHING.

Mississippi, but am so welded to quiet pursuits and the ordinary kinds of amuse- m ent that shall forego such a pleasure in the future. have a friend who lives down on the Mississippi. He makes his living by catching alligators. He could slip around and shoot them, of course, but that would spoil their skins, and be- sides render their meat more likely to spoil"
 "Meat spoil "' said some one. "Wha, does he do with the meatF'
 "Why, he owns a large butchering establishment in New Orleans and sells it for St. Louis beef steak. We'll, one day during my recent visit my friend asked me if didn't want to go out and help him fish for alligaiors. Twas rather curious to know how they were caught and readily consented. Before reaching large sand-bar shooting into the river, Tom, my friend, stopped and took from hollow tree, several coils of rope. soon perceived that at the end of each rope was attached thick, sharpened fork of sapling.
 What are those things ? asked.
 "Hooks and lines he replied.
 "You forgot to dig any bait sug- gested, 'though it would be a healthy worm, indeed, that you could spread over that prong
 "' I've got the bait he replied, look ins at dog that had followed us. AL ligators would not bite at pie when they can get dog. Never such hankering as they have after dog. With them it mus. be dog all the time. Nothing suits them so we'll as pointer for breakfast, shep- herd for dinner, while for supper they like few slices of clipped hound
 :" By this time we had reached the sand-bar. Two strong saplings grew near at hand, and to these, my friend tied his two ropes. The bark was we'll worn from the lower part of the trees, and my friend, noticing my interest, said These saplings have stood several hard pulls. Some times l catch big fellow that is rather headstro0g, then again hook one that can pull out with but little trouble after playing him awhile. We'll, we d better bait the hooks. Here, Pete, here, calling the dog. Come here, you fool Act as though you have no idea of fun Come on, that's good fellow The dog came up, and, seizing him, my friend soon dispatched him with knife. After skinning the animal, which he did in a marvelously short time, he cut the car cass in two, threw me one half, and said Bait your hook. You have a choice roast, don't you see? IL wont be long before you get a bite obeyed, ard following Toms example, threw my hook far out into the water.
 Why didn't you put on sinkers P l asked.
 "' h that case we'd never get nibble. The hooks must float far down the river. See those windlasses ? pointing to some wooden machinery which had hitherto escaped my observation. Well, after an alligator plays until he is pretty well ex- hausted,' attach the windlass and wind him in. It takes time, for the ropes be- ing long, the hooks float down quite a distance. Hold on. Easy. I've got bite
 Hisrope began to jerk, and, pretty soon began to lash the wa,er. My friend be- came excited with the sport, and tugged manfully at his end of the rope. He's only little fellow. Help me attach the windlass.' assisted him, and pretty soon we began to wind in the line. The work was difficult a, first, but soon be- came easy, for the alligator had broken himself down. At last we got him out Ugh, the horrible thing. My friend knocked him over with a pole, and plunged knife in his throat.
 "' So much for this much said Tom. wiping his brow. T have a couple of lines set about quarter of mile from here and am going down to look after them. Ifyou should hang one while am gone, let him worry until come back
 ," He Jeff me, and lighting my pipe 1 sat down and began to muse and dream over the oddity os such a life. Suddenly l vas startled by sharp splashing and looking up, saw my rope splitting the water and flashing it into foam. knew that ] had hung large one, for he bent the saping almost to the ground. It was useless for me to attempt to get him out alone, so for time contented my self with contemplation, but this, espe- cially as the amusement lacked variety, grew to be tiresome. could not see the alligator, and after studying awhile. de-