Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-21
AN ALLIGATOR MARKET.
4 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW Or
LEANS SAURlAN EMPORIUM.

An Old Fellow.
"How do you sell the beast, madame"
asked the inquisitive reporter of quiet look
ing woman, who was the one peaceful object
in the screaming, noisy world about her.
swell, I hardly know how to answer that
question:" she responded. her voice pitched
high enough to penetrate the chirping,
squeaking, cawing and growing Of the con-
gregation of feathered folk futtering about.
"You see, they come at most any price, and
when tell you we get all the way from fifty
cents to 800 apiece, you can understand
how prices vary" As is well known, sugar,
oranges and aIigators form three staples in
Louisiana exports and internal revenue, and
it was to discover the exact condition of the
crocodile market, and whether the spring
catch had been good, that visit was paid
yesterday to the big tanks on Charities street.
There is lavish liberality and free, I'M
stinted prodigality in the way one of these
reptiles lays eggs that would discourage any
thing short of a patent incubator. Why,
ithout half putting her mind to it, and in a
poor season at that, she will fill her nest
with seventy-five eggs and crawl away, COM
fortably assured every last one will produce
healthy little yellow and black wriggler.
just here it IS that the expert hunter comes
in for soft thing. He knows the favorite
laying grounds of the alligator hens as thor
oughly as Johnny does his bantam's nest in
the barn, and when the time comes for the
exhausted mother to cease from her labors,
be simply paddles out, fills his canoe with
the thick skinned, pearly globes, and feels
sure of fine return later On.
Alligators are brought into town in every
stage, from an embryo state in the egg to
great, angry monsters dozen feet long, tip
ping the scales hundreds of pounds Men
hunt their hideous game after dark, stalking
the swamps, dragging lagoons and wading
through low, oozy marshes, where vast num-
beers of alligators abide. Several methods Of
capturing them are resorted to- Those
caught with hooks are only fit for immediate
killing, as they sicken and die in short order.
The big ones are lassoed and smaller fry
shared in a heavy seine made for this pur-
pose The hunter realizes he is after danger
Gus game, with lots Of vicious habits, and so
besides binding their stupid eyes by a lamp
worn in his cap. he is prepared to send a
soothing bullet whenever necessary.
After bringing in his find Of eggs, the croc-
odile farmer heaps them in boxes and simply
depends on time to do its perfect work. In
the course of weeks the infant gnaws and
claws at the hard shell until he finally squirms
his way into the world. There is as much
difference in the skin of the young and old
ones as in baby's complexion as compared
with grown PERSONS. Their hide is as bril-
liant as if polished, a bright black and yellow,
which grows dingier and rustier every year
they live.
Passing through the big bird store the alli-
gator region is reached. 1t is pretty, gar
den like place, with tender, lacy vines
trained in delicate festoons up the lattice
against the dark brick wall. Great red pots
hold rich foliage plants that lend tropical
air to the spot, lifting the inhabitants Of the
long cemented tanks These troushs are
built six in a row, the occupants being care
fully graded according to size. There is very
little family affection among them, parents
rarely hesitating to sacrifice their offspring on
the altar OF a healthy appetite. Survival of the
biggest is an unanswerable law to which all
must succumb; consequently they are classi-
fed into two and three year olds. Twice g
week the water must be changed for the salu-
brity of the atmosphere. There Is a notorious
untamable odor about an alligator that must
be regarded. 1t is the perfume he brought
from his wild, free life in the forest, and
hangs about him with unvarying steadfast-
ness. Twice a week refreshments are handed
round, beef lights as . rule, delicacy for
which alligators have a very pronounced PEN
chant. The half grown variety eat from five
10 six at q meal, distending their uncomely,
shapeless stomachs until the receptacles refuse
to hold another particle. They feed only at
intervals, but have voracious appetites then.
They are very ugly creatures, with wretched
dispositions, as tho reporter had fair oppor-
tunity of discovering. Hanging over the side
Of the tank in playful, almost intimate, rela.
tons with the beast, his shelterine umbrella
gave . tip too far and touched the extreme
point Of the things snout. 1t was enough;
with terrifying below and blowing off of
steam the infuriated being rose two inches out
OF the water and sent his observer exactly
three feet in the air. It was q severe shock,
and has generated respect, il not admiration,
Cor tho olligators sensitiveness. Lying in the
sunshine, every grizzly feature is accumulated.
Their great shovel heads float on the water
with stupid, evil eyes that blink like yellow
excrescences on q mud colored surface A
tiny, minute slit in the snout admits enough
air to enable them to make a sound frightful
enough to scare the stoutest hearted
the keeper of the tanks said hundreds were
sold yearly to travelling shownnen, numbers
being sent to Europe as curiosities, besides
many that were bought by northern visitors
Saloon owners buy them constantly to keep
on their counters as an attraction to possess,
Chicago and St Louis being noticeable among
h., An ov-f:c harn i,, to~
them up with ali sorts of comicai devices He
stuffs them up with cotton, and fashions
preachers. lawyers, gamblers, organ grinders,
cotton handlers and duelists out of the ridicu-
lous little figures. One, burlesque scene IN
court, was very particularly amusing. These
are sold very cheaply and pretty fair trade
is driven.
The saurian merchant has q perfect traas-
urs that he keeps in close quarters and guards
as the fairest jewel of his entire collection OF
beauties. 1t is a huge, evil smelling, sluggish
reptile, measuring twelve feet, whose age is
calculated at $50 years He lies sprawled out
on the floor of his trough in a state of torpid
stupidity The creature looks bored to death,
and with enough impotent nlalignity in his
iepraved yellow eyes to devour every visitor
who studied his unhandsome proportions.
TIE tropical beast is entirely out of place
surrounded With fresh air and the perfume of
flowers. One faucies him crawling slowly
from the heat and slime Of some low lagoon.
lying in wait for prey that has no chance be-
tween those weighty jaws. Little niggers and
crocodiles Gre indissolubly connected In the
ordinary imagination, and one ,instinctively
looks round for tie black juicy morsel to
crafty his hungry. homesick heart New
Orleans Times-Democrat
Origin of the Bustle.
Women will he interested 70 know that the
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