Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30
LURED by BABIES.
How british Sportsmcn Hunt Croco-
dies in India.

From the New York Sun.
I'VE used to have great sport in India gor
ing out after crocodiles with Hindu la bies
for bait" said an ex-oilicer of the British
army. The baby wasr.'t baited or a hook
like a mnnow or a fish worn but simply
secured on the river bank so that it couldn' I
creep or toddle away or tumble into the
river. Some babies don't like their being
made crocodile bait OF, bu. that fact in
creased their value to the sportsman, for
then they yelled and made great noise,
which was just what the crocodiles we're
waiting to hear. and they'd come hurrying
from all directions to have a chance at the
babies.
Where did We get these babies for bait?
FROM thei. mothers. All the fellow who
wanted to 80 crocodilins had to do was to
noise abroad his intention, and il wasn't
long before native women would flock IN
with their babies to be rented ont for bait
me ruling price per head for the young
heathen was about cents for the day
Some mothers required a guarantee thai
incl: onspring should be returned safe and
sound, but the most of them exacted no
sucn agreement. The babies were brought
back all right as a rule. but once in a while
some sportsman was triie slow with his
rifle, or made bad shot. and the croco-
ole got away with the bait, but that didn't
happen often.
diiing. and starts in with protesting Wells
you may expect to set your crocodile very
soon, but II the baby proves to be what is
known as 4 sulker and takes the situa tiou
IN Quietness and patience. you may have to
walt some time before you get a shot
used TO have the option an Indian baby
that was the most killing bait for croco-
dies In all that part of India I killed
more than one hundred crooodiles with that
youngster as a lure before she outgrew her
usefulness. She had the most persistent
and far--eaching yell 1 ever heard come out
or mortal being, and no crocodile could re-
sist 1t. She was real siren I'm Turing the
big reptiles to their fate and was sorry
TO see her grow and get too big for bait
and have to give her up. That dusky infant
always commanded a premium in the mar
ket. and her mother was very proud of her
indeed
After he had secured his baby at a
proper spot 1t was the custom Of the sports
man to hide behind a convenient bush or
blind and wait for his game. II his bait
was lively and OF good lung he would not
have long to wait. I've seen half a dozen
crocodiles come hurrying from as many
different parts Of the river toward a baby
five minutes after 1t WAS set. With such a
rush as that, though. the sport becomes q
trifie trying to the eyes for the baby. out
generally the first crack of the rife will
scare the big reptiles back into the water.
all except the one you have sent your bulle;
into, and he. II your aim has been good
Will mop over and thrash about for a few
seCoIus uHu lneH give up the Sh0St. But
In a short time back will come the others
again. and II you have the time you can
eventually stretch them all on the bank. A
considerable sportsman, though. will not
work his baby more than fifteen minutes at
a time. Then he will have his native ser
want soothe 1t and refresh it from a nursing
bottle. which is part Of a crocodile hunters
equipment l have killed six crpcodfles
over that favorite baby lure Of mine in less
than a quarter Of an hour
II was in Florida a year or SO ago and
tried to hire baby to experiment with for
alligators after the method in India. but
folks who owned babies down there didn't
seem to enter into the spirit of the sport.
and couldn't get one ] compromised on
rather lively and complaining dog He
was success and had quite a lot OF fun.
although the sport WAS a good deal tanner
than 1t would have been II had only had
baby for bait"