The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-09-22
BAGGING DEADLY SNAKES,
A MAN WHO has BEEN AT 1T FOR
YEARS AND STILL LIVES.


seums, menageries, side shows and for
exhibition at agricultural fairs in the
large country towns is yearly on the in
crease and is evidence that, in spite Of the
repulsive appearance Of the reptiles,
there is something about them that is
certain 10 attract attention and which in
duces the Snowman to pay well for fine
specimens for exhibition. Among the
persons engaged in capturing these
snakes to supply this demand none have
been more successful than John Geer, of
Long Eddy, N. Y, who has been known
70 ship as many as fifty-four at one time,
and who once received an order from
Cincinnati for 100 for one person.
Catching rattlesnakes is by no means
a very difficult or dangerous occupation,
I though 1t may seem to be so to those un-
acquainted with the habits of reptiles,
and who only think of them with shud-
der at the thought of bite from fangs
which contain so deadly poison. Armed
simply with a stick five OF six feet long,
to one end of which is attached an iron
hook, and another stick about one-half
as long, to one end of which is tied a
good stout cord, the loose end of which
terminates in a loop-slipping moose, and
accompanied by an assistant carrying a
bag or sack. the rattlesnake catcher is
ready for work. He repairs upon a
warm day in spring to the "dens" in
search of snakes. The "dens" are spots
upon the barrens of loose stone or open
ings under lodges of rocks, through
which the reptiles crawl to their winter
quarters, and to which they go on the
first appearance of cold weather in the
fall and remain till the turn of warm
weather in the spring.
When first recalled to conscious life by
the appearance Of warm weather these
snakes crawl to the open air, at first
carefully shielding themselves from the
direct rays of the sun and becoming
gradually used to the light and heat by
keeping for few days under the edge
of the stones or in the crevices of the
rocks. After lying about the dens in a
semi-torpid condition for several DAYS,
and having regained their normal condi-
tion after their long winters sleep in un-
dergound darkness, they start out on
their summers tour 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 comfort
able quarters, and hastily slipping the
moose over their heads drops them into
the bag, which is held open by his as
sistant. With a knife he cuts the
string as near the animals head as 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 in one day.
They seldom struggle in the bag and
never try to bite. Seeming to under
stand that they are powerless they will
lingly submit to the inevitable. John
Geer has been known to throw over his
shoulders bag containing sixteen large
rattlesnakes and carry them without fear
of injury.
The writer once saw Mr.. Geer empty
two bags full of snakes Cthirty-two in
number, the catch of couple of hours
work with two assistants), into large
box. 1t was a warm day and they had
been carried some distance. The close
confinement and jolting to which they
had been subjected irritated and mad
dened them so that as soon as they found
themselves in comparative liberty on the
bottom of the box they began using their
fangs freely, biting in all directions.
Those standing near expected to see the
bitten snakes swell up and die from the
effects of the poison, but were assured
by Mr.. Geer that they would not This
proved to be the case. Not one of them
seemed to be affected in the least. Either
their skins are impervious to teeth or
else (as is the case with the flesh of the
hog their fangs cannot penetrate deep
enough to reach the tissues and they
thus escape the effects of the poison.
The number of rattles is generally sup
posed to indicate the age of the snake,
year being allowed for each one. But
they frequently lose them and it is nc
uncommon occurrence to find a very
large snake with but few rattles and
sometimes with none, and in a like man
ner a comparatively small one with a
large number.
By many persons it is supposed that
the black rattlesnake is the female and
the yellow the male. But color is nj
distinction of sex. The rattlesnakt
travels by night as well as by day, and
in the course of the season frequently
gets several miles from its den, TO which,
AAOhNfSAf ~ INV iuplJ lCAuiho Ou INT
first appearance of cold weather, unless
it has been disturbed there, and then il
seeks other quarters.
The rattlesnake swims with great ease
floating lightly upon the water with it
rattles held up to keep them from get
ting wet. 1t is generally supposed tina
the rattlesnake cannot climb, but one wa
killed a few years since upon beam il
a tannery at least ten feet from tn
ground.
Snakes are frequently found aroun,
deserted buildings, barns, outhouses, an,
indeed in the cellars of inhabited dwell
ings where, if they are allowed to re
main, they will as thoroughly rid tn
premises of rats and mice as would tn
best cat and in much less time. The
are not pleasant joint occupants of
house, however, as Mrs. Hawks, of TIE
Mile River, found to her sorrow whe
she put her hand into the pork barrel fc