Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-10-31
An Arkansas Snske-Fsrm.

E. Ckilds has monopoly OF
rattlesnake oil in Arkansas, in which
! State is located what is well known
/ through that country as the Childs
Snake Farm. This peculiar aud un-
envied enterprise is situated In the
suburbs OF this little village, in the
northeastern part of the State, where
snakes, especially rattlers, are found
i'm abundance.
The manner in which the rattle
snakes are caught and handled Is
enough TO make cold chills run over
persons who are timid. Twenty-Five
cents TO 81 per pound for rattle
snakes. however, makes IL an induce
ment for the natives who live near u
good market 10 hunt and catch rat
tiers for a livelihood, and here is how
they do it
Two men in search for profit In the
snake industry go together. One OF
them carries long, forked pole or
cane. and when n snake is found this
pole is used to hold the reptile TO the
ground, which is done by pressing the
pole down upon the snake, just back
of the head. The other snake-hun-
ter carries strong cord, which Is
looped over the head OF the poison
onous prey, and is then used Tor car
ryirg the reptile TO market (Which,
however, Is done without injury TO
the snake) Other hunters use the
pole in the way described, but instead
OF bringing their captives to market
by means OF the string they use box
which has sliding lid, and which
can be operated with ease and out OF
reach OF the cooped-up rattler.
When the snake catchers arrive Mt
the residence OF Mr. Childs the lat
ter. i'm a careless-like manner, takes
the matter In hand, and II box OF
rattlers, for instance, Is brought TO
him, he removes the lid OF the box
and takes the snake (wild from the
woods) out Just as one would reach
in for and take hold OF arabbit. The
rattler. as soon as the top OF his case
has been taken of, sets up n contin-
uous rattle and Kisses fearfully. Mr.
Childs, however, pays no attention 10
this little racket but simply takes the
snake TO his farm, weighs IT, pays
the catcher and Is then ready for
repetition OF the act. A good Dig
rattlesnake will weigh from six to ten
pounds, and II fat will be worth near
ly or quite as many dollars.
The size OF the snake farm Is about
halfa acre, with tightly closed
men in it's centre, which is the abid'
ing place OF the snakes. Here the
ugly reptiles are kept and fattened.
and when they are ready TO he put
under process for the production OF
oil the reptiles heads are neatly chop
ped of. and by means OF string are
tied. head upward, to the side OF the
pen when the sun Is brightest. The
heat OF the sun, II IL said, causes the
oil OF the snake TO drip out and 1t is
caught in a receptacle and laid aside
TO be subsequently sold at from sl.D0
TO 80 an ounce or from s20 to s32
pint.
Mr.. Childs IL said to be the only
genuine producer Of rattlesDake oil
in this country. When quite young
he herded in Dakota, and here II was
he formed the friendship OF the rat
tlesnakes-a friendship which, he
states. has grown. until now he will
pick up a rattler wild from his den
with a. little fright as he gathers the
innocent rabbits and toads which he
constantly feeds to his captiyes.
While the writer was viewing with
a feeling Of reluctance the snakrry
Mr. ChiIds was asked IL n certain
snake could swallow the young rab.
bit which was near IL, wbereupon
the afrable manager OF the snake
farm induced the snake 10 try the
capacity Of its throat, which II did to
the rabbits misfortune, the nttler
putting itself on the outside Of the
bunny with apparent ease.
Mr.. ChiId's favorite time for cap
turing snakes Is In the fall OF the
year. He manages to find some small
creek which flows out Of the high
lands. Here he watches for and fol-
lows up the first rattler that leaves
the lowIand for winter quarters In
the highlands. In this manner the
den Is easily found. A box trap Is
then set in the den capable OF hold
ing fifty large snakes. A snake trap
is about four feet square. Inone end
OF the box is hole large enough to
admit one large rattlesnake. This
opening Is covered with block hung
on, a leather hinge on the outside OF
the box. Then the box IL buried at
the mouth OF the den, and In due
time the snakes enter and are entrap-
ped and ready to be handled for the
production OF oil
The skin OF q good-sized rattlesnake
will bring In the market from " to
s5-owing, Of course, to how well 1t
has been preserved. A den contains
, all the way from ten to fifty rattlers
and often more.