Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-21
ALLIGAT0RS.
fOk;NG THEM UP TO PL0W
ORANGE GROVES.
The Method Adopted for Capture
OF the ReptiIes-Value of
Their Skins.

A correspondent, writing from Jackson
vile, Fla, to the st. Louis Globe Democrat
upon the crop of alligators in the flower
State, says:
The Florida gator is a rare bird" in
its way, and a very formidable one, too. at
times, but, like all celebrities, is some
times used as the basis for some stupendous
yarns. For instance, in recent issue. a
Newark IN. j. authority (?) gives the
modus operandi for catching and killing
the saurian, when Its skin is wanted. One
method was to get the gator amused at
some side-splitting New Jersey?) tale, or
else tickle him under the fifth rib. and
when he opened his huge mouth, in an
amused grin, to seize the opportunity and
thrust big harpoon through his tongue
The gator would then good-naturedly
butt himself against the bank until he felt
the throes of final dissolution, when he
would float up against the wharf, give up
the Cgator) ghost and be in readiness to
be skinned. Again. the spectacle of ALI
gator Platt" riding on gators back,
"geeing and having" so as to make a
good landing, would make even the most
ill-natured and fierce bull saurian that
ever infested these waters split his sides
with loud OUTLAWS! 1t should have been
added to this that he trained them and
drove them in pairs to pillow his orange
grove!
The gator is beset with dangers from
| the first, which probably accounts for his
somewhat unfriendly disposition. The
female finds some secluded sandbank ex-
posed fully to the suns rays, scoops out a
hole two or three feet deep with her fore
paws, lines it with old rubbish, grass etc,
and lays layer of eggs varying from %
to 200 at time. These are carefully COW
cred over to hight of three to four feet,
| with grass small sticks, etc From the
moment of laying the eggs scores of enc
mics are in wait THE big sand cranes and
| eagles are not averse to good meal of
gators eggs, while bears, wild cats and
foxes take them as great delicacy. Then
comes the naturalist and curiosity hunter,
| and hundreds and hundreds of eggs are
gathered by these Unsuitable seekers. The
old female is very fierce at this time and
lies in wait near by, and has been known
to attack men even in the defense of her
nest. Finally the young gators are
Matched by the suns rays, and the mound
snakes. These young ones are smart and
with an idea of the good things of life, has
been taking sly interest in this incuba-
ton, and when the young ones get out he
is on hand to take good meal on infant
alligator.
Many fights have been witnessed be-
tween the female and the male, in the for
mer's defense of her young The young
ones, until they reach the length of a foot,
are with the old female all the time Their
great delight is to lie basking on the sunny
sand bank, clustered in one big mass.
| Upon the slightest alarm the old mother
utters hoarse call, opening wide her ca
pacious mouth, and the youngsters scram-
BILE in for safety.
Formerly they were plentiful on all the
streams and lakes in the State, but the in
discriminate shooting has scared them off
into the more inaccessible bayous and
lakes. In the lower portion of the State,
in the everglades, they are hunted vIgor-
ously for their skins Scores of hunters
secure from 1000 to 1900 skins annually,
and, as they receive 81 each for them,
they obtain what is to them princely in
come. alligator Pratt" one of the old
est hunters in that section of the State,
lives on Lake Tohopekoliga, and his sto-
| ries of miraculous escapes from gators and
bears are thoroughly enjoyed by the tour
lists who have the good fortune to hear
him narrate any of them.
| The best and most common mode to hunt
them is by flashing their eyes at night, the
same as Devastating. Two generally hunt
together in a canoe, one sitting in the
stern padding, the other standing at the
bow, with bulls eye fastened to his head.
| They move on cautiously, the one in front
coaching the course by slow motions of his
hand. Hist a warning hand is appraised,
the motion of the paddle ceases, and the
canoe glides on almost imperceptlbly the
| slight ripple at the bow being the only
sound heard. The one with the rifle, a
44-caliber Winchester, slowly raises his
weapon, peering expectantly forward, now
to one side, then another. Suddenly a
CLEAN is seen ahead like coal of fire shin
ing through the darkness, and the up.
raised rifle belches forth stream of fire
A confused thrashing, and, perhaps, a deep
below follows; then all is still. II
wounded, the gator makes off to deer
water, and if dead he sinks at once. The
hunters do not stop for their game, unless
in shallow water, and the gator is killed
instantly, but go ahead and search for fresh
victims. The next day they begin their
lookout for their game. When killed the
saurians sink at once, but the gases in :he
body bring them up in from six to ten
hours Hundreds are undoubtedly lost by
being wounded and dying in some inac,
cessible creek or bayou, but the pot hunt,
ers care not. The skins are carefully taken
off and the carcasses left for buzzards aud
other scaveneers, though the teeth are
generally secured if there is time. No
portion is eaten, though some of the
| hunters delight to thrill the incre9uous
tourist with tales of living on alligator
meat.
Last Christmas good joke was perpe-
trated at leading South Florida fashion,
able resort. 1t was great headquarters
for sportsmen, and game of all kinds was
abundant on the table. On Christmas day
on the menu cards of the table where q
party of six jolly characters sat, was even
ison" steak. 1t seemed to please them all
greatly, and was called for repeatedly, and
the cook was complimented for the fine
dish. After dinner, as they were picking
their teeth complacently in the reading,
room, the smiling host, a great wag who
never suffered himself to interfere with q
good joke, called several of them into the
office where dozen or more others were
gathered, and casually inquired regarding
the venison."
at was remarkably fine" said we'll
known Chicago banker, so juicy and ten.
ter Where was it killed ~
Eyes" interjected New Yorker a
prominent yachtsmau, who also prided
himself on his ability to hunt. 1t wa,
prime. l shall have to try my luck at his
kindred Tomorrow
~ certainly enjoyed it," remarked q
Congressman from Ohio, a well-knowr
epicure, too. :" You know l always sale
you ought to give us more of that sort
Others joined in to the same effect, wher
the host, with twinkle in his eye, said
Well, gentlemen, | am certainly GLAD
you enjoyed that alligator steak. We car
now find good use for these fellows
A moment they stood srellbound by hi.
words, and then, as the full meaning
burst upon them, their faces paled to ashy
whiteness and they left for their rooms
precipitately, while peals of laughter
greeted the victims from those in The