Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-10
MATCHING QUEER ANIMALS,
PrOpngatfnE AlliEntnrs md Croco
dies by Artifice for Market.


The attention Of the United States fish
commission has been called recently to
new and remarkable industry, namely,
the artificial propagation of alligators.
For supplying the trade in Florida curiosi-
ties there is large demand for young rep
tiles Of this kind. In Jacksonville, which
is the center of the traffic, from 5000 to
10000 alligators are sold to tourists an
nuaTIy-nearIy all OF them baby ones The
latter are collected in considerable num-
bers by professional hunters. who receive
for them from so to s25 a hundred. Some
Of them are disposed of alive at retail,
but many are stuffed. An infant alligator
stuffed Is worth twenty-five cents more
than live one. Saurians, six to twelve
feet long. fetch sl2 to s25.
The difficulty of securing young alliga-
tors in sufficient numbers has led to the
establishment of the strange business de-
scribed. To lind the nests of these reptiles
fs comparatively easy. and the eggs are
shipped in bulk by the hunters to Jackson
Vile. In that city there are twelve deal
ers in alligators, the best-known of them
being man who has earned the sobriquet
of alligator Davis" 1t was he who
originated the incubator system. which is
simple enough. The eggs. about the size
of goose eggs, are placed in boxes of sand
and covered up The boxes are exposed on
a roof to the torrid rays Of semi-tropical
sun, and in a few days the lizards are
Matched. They are six inches so in
length when they make their first appear
ance In the world Some of them are killed
and stuffed as soon as they see daylight.
species of true crocodile Is found in
southern Florida on both coasts. 1t is
hardly distinguishable from the alligator
except by the shape of it's head, though 1t
bigger. attaining a len -th nj jph +
cen feet. DR.. Hugh NJ. Smith of the
fish commission says that young crocodiles
are Matched for market in the same fash
ion. The mother crocodile lays her eggs
in sand like a turtle, and simply covers
them over. Somewhat different is the
practice Of the maternal alligator, who, in
April or May seeks a sheltered spot on
a bank and there builds small mound.
The foundation of the mound is of mud
and grass and on this she lays some eggs.
She covers the eggs with another stratum
of grass and mud, upon which she deposits
some more eggs. Thus she proceeds until
she has laid from 100 to 200 eggs.
The eggs. In the course of time, are
Matched by the sum- assisted by the heat
which the decomposition Of the vegetable
material generates. AS soon as they have
''ehipped the SHE'LL" the baby aliigators
are led to the water by the mother, who
provides them with food which she dis
gorges, showing much anxiety for their
safety. At this early period of their ex-
istence they are exposed to many dangers,
being favorite prey of fishes and turtles.
Alligators eggs, by the way, are some
times eaten by the Florida crackers. The
robbing of the nests for market is helping
to hasten the inevitable destruction of the
alligator fishery, which has been an impor-
tant and profitable industry in Florida.
Facts recently gathered by the fish COM
mission show that the reptiles cannot long
escape practical determination. Already
they are becoming scarce, and the price
of hides has gone up.
. 1t is estimated that 2,5OO,OOO alligators
were killed in Florida between 1880 and
1884 In 1883 three firms, located at Kis-
simmee for the purpose of buying skins
taken in the region between Lake Kissim-
NEE and Lake Okeechobee, handled $4,000
hides. During the same year twelve hunt
ers brought to Fort Pierce 1000 pelts. Two
firms in Jacksonville handled 10000 skins
in 1882 A few years ago an expert hunter
could easily secure 600 aligators in three
weeks. and one man at Cocoa killed forty
two in one night. The skins are paid for
Dealers get sixty-five cents apiece for them
from tanners in New York.
In 1880 about $50 pounds Of alligator
teeth were sold. hunters receiving from
81 to 50 pound for them. They are re-
moved by burying the heads and rotting
out the teeth. or the best teeth about
seventy make a pound. The stuffing of alli-
gators and the polishing Of the teeth give
employment to forty persons. Unfortun-
ately, alligators grow very slowly At fifteen
years of age they are only two feet long. A
twelve-footer may be supposed reasonably
to be seventy-fve years old. 1t is believed
probably they live longer than any other
animals