Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-29
RATTLESNAkES.
A MAN WHO HAS BEEN CATCHING
THEM FOR YEARS.

tTC" run TCSNOs
A Gtnd Price Paid for the Reptiles to
snakes Their Characteristics - Oil.
Bite.-What They Eat.
The demand for rattleSnakes for museums,
mruag"rIe>, side shows and for exhibition ut
agricultural fairs in the large country towns
Is yearly on the Increase and is evidence that,
IN spite Of the rrpulSive appearance Of the
reptiles. there is something about them that is
certain tu attract attention, and which in
durrs the Snowman to pay well for fine speci-
mems for exhibition. Among the persons en-
gagel III capturing these snakes to supply this
demand none have been more successful than
John G,er, Of Long Eddy, who has been
known 10 ship many a. fifty-fow at one
time, and who once received an order from
Cincinnati for loo from one person.
Catching ruttlcSnakcs is 10y no means a very
difficult or dangerous occupation, though it
may stN'm to br - tn those unacquaints1i with
the habits of the reptiles and who only think
Of them with a shudder at the thought Of a
bit" from fangs which contain deadly n
poison. Armed simply with a stick five or six
feet long, to one end Of which is attached an
iron hook. and another stick about half As
long, To one end Of which is tied good stout
cord, the loose end Of which terminates in r
lDopslipplng moose, and accompanied by All
assistant carrying bag or n sack, the rattle
snake catcher Is ready for work. lie repairs
upon warm day iii spring To the "ciens" i'll
search of snakes The "dens" are spots upon
the harrcns Of lonSe stone or openings under
ledGcs Of rocks, through which the reptiles
crawl Ia their winter quarters, and to which
they <" on the first appearance Of cold weather
i'll 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 in n semi
torpid condition for several days. and having
reGained their normal condition after their
long winters sleep in underground darkness,
they start out on their summers cruise i'll
search uf 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 a knife he cuts
the string aS near the animals head As safety
will warrant, and then fixing another moose
Is ready for more shakes. la 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 understand that they are power
less, they willingly submit to the inevitable
John Gcer has been known to throw over his
shoulders a az containing sixteen large rat
tleSnaEes and carry them without fear of in
jury.
VARIOUS PARTICULARS.
The number of rattles is generally supposed
to indicate the age of the snake. a year being
allowe,Lfor each one But they frequently
lose them and it is no uncommon occurrence
to find a very large snake with but few rattles
and sometimes with none, and iii 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
Il
The rattleSnake IT vels 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 on the first ap-
pearancc Of cold weather. unless it has been
distdrbed there, and then it seeks other
quarters.
The rattlesnake swiIns with great ease, float
ing lightly upon the water with its rattIes
held up TO keep them from getting wet 1t is
generally supposed that tho rattlesnake can
not climb, but one was killed few years since
upon a beam i'll a tannery while it was al least
ten feet from the ground.
Rattlesnakes feed on rats, mice, squirrels,
birds, frogs, toads and rabbits, and in living
in wait for their prey exhibit patience that
would be credit to job They seldom bite,
even when they have an opportunity. unless
irTItated or trodden upon. They cannot strike
unless coiled or partially -, and cannot reach
more than half or two-thir,is their length.
While their gastronnmic capacity is very
great Ia good sized snake will make wav with
full grown rabbit at a single meal their
ability to fast is equally as wonderful There
are many well attested instances of their Iv-
Ing for two years without eating!
Among the people living in the country in
fested by them their oil is held in great reputs
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 an excellent remedy for fever
No remedy for their poisonous bite is known
to the medical fraternity, and it is generally
regarded rs inCurable, though an occasional
cure Is effected 10y the liberal use Of whisky.
New York World.