Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-04
HOW TO BAG RATrLEsNAKEs.
John Geer Has Been at it for Years
and Still Lives.
Ern,n the Ne,n YnrI. Rorl

| LIE uSLHduu LOT TdlIlSSudHes lOt iuuoS-
ums, menageries, side shows and for ex-
hibitiOns at agricultural fairs in the large
country towns is yearly on the increase,
and is evidence that, In spite of the repul-
siVe appearance of the reptiles, there is
something about them that is certain to
attract attention and which induces the
Snowman to pay we'll for fine specimens
tor exhibition. Among the persons en-
| gagged in capturing these snakes to sup
! ply this demand none have been more sue
! cesstul than John Geer, OF Long Eddy,
| n. I :, who has been known to ship as
many as tilty-four at one time, and who
once received an order from Cincinnati
for 100 for one person.
Catching raLtlesnakes is by no means
q very difficult or dangerous occupation,
though it may seem to be so to those I'M
| acquainted with the habits of the reptiles,
ana who only think of them with shud-
der at the thought OF bite from fangs
which contain so deadly a poison. Armed
simply with a stick i've or 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 good
| stout cord, the loose end OF which terml-
mates in lOop-slippng moose, and ac-
companied by an assistant carrying bag
or sack, the rattlesnake catcher is ready
for work. He repairs upon warm day IN
| spring to the "dens'' in search of snakes.
The ''dens" are spots upon the barrens of
loose stones or openings 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
liz 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 care
| fully shielding 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 a 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 in
search OF food.
While thus lying dumplishly 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 as near the ami
mails 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 strug-
gle in the bag and never try to bite.
Seeming to understand that they are
| pOWerless they willingly submit to the
inevitable. John Geer has been known
to throw over his shoulders bag contain
ing sixteen large rattlesnakes and carry
them without fear OF injury.
The writer once saw Mr.. Geer empty
two bags full of snakes (thirty-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 fang s
cannot penetrate deep enough to reach the
tissues and they thus escape the effects of
the poison.
The rattlesnake is ovo-viviparous, eggs
being retained until Matched and the
young expelled alive. They are prolific
breeders q single snake frequently giving
birth to dozen or more young ones. One
sont to Prof. Worth, OF this city, a few
years since, gave birth in the month of
August to eighteen. The young snakes
at birth are from six to eight inches in
length and are each provided with one
rattle.
The number OF rattles is generally sup
posed to indicate the age Of the snake, a
year being allowed for each one. But they
frequently lose them and it is no uncom-
mon occurrence to find very large snake
, with but few rattles and sometimes with
none, and in like manner a comparatively
small one with large number.
BY many persons 1t is supposed that the
black rattlesnake is the female and the
yellow the male. But color is no distinc-
ton of sex. The rattlesnake travels by
night as well as by day, and in the course
of the season frequently gets several
miles from it's den, to which, however, it
invariably returns on the first appear
ance OF cold weather, unless it has been
disturbed there, and then seeks other
quarters.
The rattlesnake swims with great ease,
floating lightly upon the water with it's
rattles held up to keep them from getting
wet. III Is generally supposed that the
rattlesnake cannot climb, but one was
killed a lew years since upon beam in a
tannery while twas at least ten feet from
the ground.
Snakes are frequently found around de-
serted buildings, barns, outhouses, and in
deed in the cellars Of inhabited dwellings
, where, If they are allowed to remain, they
will as thoroughly rid the premises OF rats
and mice as would the best cat and in
much less time. They are not pleasant
Joint occupants of house, however, as
Mrs. Hawks, OF Ten-Mile, found to her
sorrow when she put her hand/into the
pork barrel for piece Of meat and got a
bite from large rattlesnake instead.
Rattlesnakes feed on rats, mice, squir-
rels, birds, frogs, toads and rabbits, and in
lying in wait for their prey exhibit pa
thence that would be a credit to Job. They
seldom bite, even when they have an OPP
portuntVuness irritated or trodden upon.
They cannot strike unless coiled or par
italy so, and cannot reach more than one
half or two-thlrds their length.
GOOD APPETITE.
While their gastrOnoInic capacity is
very great a good sized snake Will make
with "a I'm l-prOwu rabbit at "A oiupla