News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-02-28
ALLIGATOR HUNTING.
The Saurians Slaughtered in Great
Numbers in Florida.

Alligator hunting by night is now the
great sport in Florida. Alligators fSve
learned to avoid mankind and steam
boats. Repeated trips can now be made
the entire length of the st. Johns river
without seeing a single specimen. The
reptiles have been hunted down until
they conceal themselves ut the first
sound of boat or the sight OF any
human kind.
Alligator hunting was formerly one OF
the most profitable pursuits in FLORIDA
as well as q source of infinite amuse-
ment. The reptiles have been slaugh-
tered in immense numbers all over the
State. They seemingly possess no IN
telligence and are slothful beyond de-
scription, but nevertheless have learned
that man is their enemy and safety is
secured only by hasty flight and seclu-
sion when he appears. They were
formerly shot for pastime by excursion
lists from the deck of nearly every steam
boat that navigated the lakes and rivers
of the State, but now the ironclad rule
is everywhere enforced upon boats that
alligators must not be seriously dis
turbed by either passengers or en-
ployees. This rule has been rendered
necessary to satisfy women and chill
dren, who frequently complain that they
have been in Florida for weeks without
seeing single real live alligator in his
native haunts.
Under present conditions alligator
hunting by daylight has become a tire
some, uninteresting and Improbable
occupation in most parts of the PENN
sula, and the hunters have adopted the
novel scheme of killing them by night.
The men equip themselves with guns,
revolvers, knives and bulIs-eye lanterns
and seek an alligator track as soon as it
is dark. These tracks are as plainly
marked as wagon road, and are made
by the alligators constantly moving from
one lake, river or swamp to another.
The men take their stationsand preserve
absolute silence. The alligators can be
heard a considerable distance laboriously
approaching. When at the proper point
the bulls-eyes are turned upon them.
The sudden stream of dazzling light
terrorizes them, and they are seemingly
paralyzed for the nonce. Their eyes
bulge out and sparkle like huge diamonds,
and at these glistening orbs the hunters
direct their aim. 1t is useless to shoot
them except in the eyes, the open mouth
or under the throat, us their tough skins
turn away the shot, and they receive no
injury. When the alligators are all
killed the hunters move on to another
ridge and await the approach of more
victims.
A negro is usually employed to re-
move the hides and teeth, while the re-
mains are left as food for the numerous
buzards, which are here protected by
law. The hides sell for from 81 to So
each, and the teeth for as much more,
the latter being worked up into Iewelry
and other ornaments. Half Il dozen en-
terprising men can secure from one to a
score of alligators in single night, the
number depending on the location and
the condition of the weather.
If the reptiles continue their migra-
tory habits there will be little trouble in
DISCRIMINATING them within few years
without encounteriug the dangers of en-
tering the swamps opursue them. The
disposition to move about apparently
grows upon them with the advance of
civilization, the uneasiness among them
being engendered presumably by the
persistency with which they are pursued.
In their present panic-stricken condi-
ton they are seldom found far from the
water in daylight, but make all their
overland journeys by night.