Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-26
SNAKE PARADISE.
An Oregon Town That is Overrun b


An Oregon Town That is Overrun BY
Reptiles.
The most unique locality to be found
by the sportsman is probably that sur
rounding the town of Linkville, in Kla-
math county, Ore. The town nestles
at the foot of large mountain, and
lies right on the bank of what is locally
known as the Link river. This stream
W htch is quite large-connects the
upper and lower klamath lakes, is
alive with thousands, and probably
Millions of large fish, which are con-
stantlH passing to and fro between the
two lakes, and are as constantly jump
ing out of the water in sight of the |
town. They are of all sorts and sizes. |
Some of them appear to be cutting up |
these antics for the fun of the thing, |
and some to shake some kind of an eel
looking creature which attacks them in
the water and becomes attached to their |
sides, causing the fish apparently much
suffering 1t is no uncommon thing
for large fish to be taken there whose |
sides are all SCARED up in consequence
of these attacks.
1t would not be surprising if many
fish were thus destroyed. Probably
there are not in the world two lakes
more numerously stocked with trout
than the upper and lower klamath
lakes. Judging by map measurement,
they each average thirty miles in length
by ten miles in width. Many large
streams empty into them, affording
splendid fishing and spawning grounds.
Lying east of the range of mountains,
| where genuine winter prevails in the
season for it, the water is better and
the fish healthy and solid--features
which do not prevail on the western
| side of the mountain, where an alma
| nae has to be consulted to ascertain
accurately the season of the year
But to revert to Link river. There is
another and very peculiar feature about
its banks; they are a snake paradise.
The blue ribbon-though it may have
been consistently worn by the sports
| man for the last decade of his life-will
not prevent the seeing of tens of thou
sands of snakes in a walk of half mile
from the town. They are OF harmless
variety, and of all colors and sizes, six
| inches to six feet in length. On warm,
sunny days they lie twisted together in
| heaps of hundreds and it is not uncOm-
mon to see three thousand of them in
fifteen minutes walk. If disturbed
while taking their siesta, in their effort
to get away they become twisted into
the form of a cable as large as a mans
body and cannot move. According to an
estimate made by one of the oldest and
most intelligent inhabitants of that
vicinity there are snakes enough in that
country to build wall four feet wide
and four feet high at least mile long.
Some of the farms there are fenced
with walls laid up with round water
worn stones. These walls constitute
the home of thousands of these reptiles.
If one of these walls is approached
from nearly ever interstice a snakes
head will be protruded with forlzed
tongue forbidding trespass on their
domain. What is singular about this
whole affair is the protection afforded
these reptiles by the inhabitants there.
They will not allow them to be killed
or even injured. Their children,
familiarized with them from
their birth, have no loathing OF
! fear of the reptiles, butt pick
them up and play with them, as any
other child does with toy, under eau
ton of the parents not to hurt them.
The reasons given by the farmers and
) others for this protection are three.
First, the farmers could raise no crops
7 without their aid in destroying various
5 bugs, insects and vermin which would
> otherwise overrun the whole region
with destruction of all living vegeta
ton; second the reptiles smell sicl1en
ing enough living, but their stencil is
intolcrable when dead; and third, they
dcvour and reduce the number of frogs
anil hereby hangs a tale.
Annually there descend upon Link
vile and the surrounding country I'm
told millions of little creatures, re
scmbling a frog, and about the size O
small one, which are reminders o
the Biblical frogs of Egypt. Wher
they come from no one seems to know
but it is probable they come from tn
Upon their arrival every door an
window has to be closed against them
or they will invade the houses in count
less numbers and dispute possession G
every part thereof, even to the bee
The entrance to and exit from hous
is done with instantaneous celebrity an
a resounding slam to the door which
under ordinary circumstances, woul
K betray passionate mood Of cours
c. the streets of the town are full of then
And now the snake takes his annut
d feast And thus is natures law of SUI
= ply and demand fulflled.-Forest an
Stream.
~ Changed the Subject.
- One of the most difficult things to d
y gracefully is to change the current {