The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-06
RATTLESNAKES.
A MAN WHO HAS BEEN CATCHING
THEM FOR YEARS.

Good Price Paid for the Reptiles to
Put in Museums-How to Bag the
Snakes Their characteristics Oil.
Bite.-what They Eat.
The demand for rattlesnakes for museums,
menageries side shows and for exhibition at
agricultural fairs in the large country towns
is yearly on the increase and is evidence that,
in spite of the repulsive appearance of the
reptiles, there is something about them that is
certain to attract attention, and which in
duces the Snowman to pay well for fine speci-
mems for exhibition Among the persons en-
gagged In capturing these snakes to supply this
demand none have been more successful than
John Geer, of Long Eddy, who has been
known to ship as many fifty-four at one
time, and who once received an order from
Cincinnati for 100 from one person.
Catching rattlesnakes is by no means a very
difficult or dangerous occupation, though it
may seem to be to those unacquainted with
the habits of the reptiles, and who only think
OF them with a shudder at the thought of O
bite from fangs which contain so deadly a
poison Armed simply with n stick five or six
feet long, to one end of which is attached
iron hook, and another stick about half
long, to one end of which is tied good stout
cord, the loose end of which terminates in
loop-slipping moose, and accompanied by an
assistant carrying bag or sack, the rattle
snake catcher Is ready for work. He repairs
upon warm day in spring to the "dens" in
search of snakes The ''densr are spots upon
the barrens of loose stone or openings under
lodges of rocks, through which the reptiles
crawl to their winter quarters, and to which
they so on the first appearance of cold weather
in the fall and remain till the return of warm
weather in the spring.
HOW TO BAG THE SNAKES
When first recalled to conscious life by the
appearance of warm weather. these snakes
crawl to the open air, at first carefully shield
ing themselves from the direct rays of the
sun and becoming gradually used to the light
and heat by keeping for a few days under the
edge of the stones or in the crevices of the
rocks After lying about the dens i'll a semi
torpid condition for several days, and having
regained their normal condition after their
long winters sleep in underground darkness,
they start out their summers cruise in
search of food
While thus lying dumpishly about the den
the snake catcher takes advantage of their
lethargic condition. With his hook he draws
them out from their comfortable quarters,
and, hastily slipping the moose over their
heads, drops them into the bag, which is held
open by his assistant. With knife he cuts
the string Us near the animals head safety
will warrant, and then fixing another moose,
Is ready for more snakes. In this manner
sometimes twenty or thirty, or even more,
may be caught i'll day. They seldom
struggle in the bag, and never try to bite
Seeming to understand that they are power
less, they willingly submit to the inevitable.
John Geer has been known to throw over his
shoulders a az containing sixteen large rat
tlesnakes and carry them without fear of in
jury
VARIOUS PARTICULARS
The number of rattles is generally supposed
to indicate the age of the snake, n year being
allowed for each one. But they frequently
lose them and il is no uncommon occurrence
to find a very large snake with but few rattles
and sometimes with none, and i'll like manner
a comparatively small one with large
number
By many persons it is supposed that the
black rattlesnake is the female and the yellow
the male. But color is no distinction of sex.
The rattlesnake TT Ivels by night as well as by
day, and in the course of the season frequently
gets several miles from its den, to which, how
ever, it invariably returns the first APP
pearance of cold weather, unless it has been
disturbed there, and then it seeks other
quarters
The rattlesnake swms with great ease float
ing lightly upon the water with its rattles |
held up to keep them from getting wet 1t is |
generally supposed that the rattlesnake can |
not climb but one was killed a few years since |
upon beam in a talnery while it was al least |
ten feet from the ground. |
Rattlesnakss feed ON rats, mice, squirrels, |
birds, frogs, toads and rabbits. and in lying |
in wait for their prey exhibit patience that |
would be a credit to Job. They seldom bite. |
even when they have an opportunity, unless |
irritated or trodden upon. They cannot strike |
unless coiled or partially so, and cannot reach |
more than one-half or two-thirCls their length.
While their gaSrononic capacity is very |
great Ia good sized snake will make way with 1
a full grown rabbit at a single meaD their
ability to fast is equally as wonderful. There
are many well attested instances of their liv-
ing for two years without eatingI
Among the people living in the country in
tested by them their oil is held in great repute
for the cure of ear ache deafness, stiff Joints
and various other ills, and sells readily at 81
per ounce. while their gall preserved in chalk
is regarded as an excellent remedy for a fever
No remedy for their poisonous bite is known
to the medical fraternity, and it is generally
regarded as incurable, though an occasional
cure is effected by the liberal use of whisky.
New York World.