The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-11
MONEY IN SNAKE FARMING.
A Ranch Where Snakes Are Grown
For the Trade.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Rochester, Minn.-Along the warm and
honeycombed limestone bluffs that line
the zumbro river in this land of wheat
and creameries are the homes of vast
numbers of snakes. In the early days of
settlement of the northwest there were
myriads of all sorts of deadly snakes
known to North America to be found in
this neghborhood. To-day there are more
snakes caught for circus companies and
other buyers here than anywhere else in
the country, except in some of the lower
counties of Florida. All along the Missis-
sippi and tributary streams where snakes
are to be found they are caught for the
Rochester farm and sold to o. w. Estes,
a young man, who runs the snake farm
and for several years has been making a
success of the venture.
Mr.. Estes also carries on snake hatch
cry, something after the manner of a
hennery, but considerably more exciting.
The eggs produced by his stock are gath
cred and laid in the sun on the sand,
where, In time, they hatch out youngsters
fully as lively and venomous as their par
ents. So far this year several hundred
have been Matched, and all have thrived
on the treatment given them by Mr.. Estes
and his assistants. Many of these young
used for food for the king snake and
others that eat only their own kind.
A large part of the business of this Min
nesota farm is i'm rattlesnakes, as they
are more plentiful than any other variety.
All this region used to be overrun by
them. A single days receipts of diamond
backed and other rattlers often runs up
to several score, especially when an out
side catcher for the farm brings in his
sacks full and sells them to Mr.. Estes.
These snakes vary from three to six feet
in length. Among the other varieties re-
ceived and grown are spotted adders,
blowsnakes the beautiful turtleheads the
sullen bullsnakes. the gentle blue racers,
the spreading adders and many kinds of
water grass and garter snakes. A1ligat
ors from Florida and crocodiles from
abroad as well as some foreign snakes,
are constantly kept in stock for custom
ers, mostly circus men.
Estes Is a natural snake charmer, and
never, unless requested by his customer,
takes out the fangs of the animals in
which he deals, and to this fact he at
tributes considerable of the success he has
had in raising them. He will. without
fear fondle a RATHER bull, or an adder,
force open its mouth and with his finger
nail deftly expose the poison sac and
fangs. In all his long experience In this
sort of thing he has never been bitten.
His favorite method OF capture is TO grab
the RATHER by the tail and dexterously
swing the snake into a sack, but when
one is found lying full length Estes grasps
AZ tightly back of the head. Though he
has many assistants among the farmers
of this vicinity, there is no other man
in this part of the United States who
dares 20 open snake Jaws with bare hands
as he does fearlessly. His little daugh-
ter Hazel who is only years old. seems
to have the same power over the reptiles,
nd ~ no
deadly snakes and allowing them TO twine
about her arms and neck.
SO far this year about 900 snakes OF the
more valuable varieties have been ship
ped from this farm Not only are cir
cuses and menageries customers OF Mr..
Estes, but In many cigar stores and sa-
looms the reptiles are displayed as attrac-
lions 10 custom. A few days ago rat
tier six feet long, eight inches Ia girth.
ana with twenty-six rattles, was sent to
Minneapolis saloOnkeeper for his win
dow. Rattlers arc inexpensive things 70
have about the house for a healthy rep.
tile taken IN the spring viii need no food
for a year. The rattlers in confinement
are ucw becoming blind preparatory 20
shedding their skins Tho wild rattlars
do not shed their skins quite so early Tho
food given these pets consists chiefly OF
gophcrs. frogs, rats. squirrels. birds and
rabbits being added occasionally.
The small boys In this vicinity derive a
considerable revenue from catching and
selling snake food 90 the farm.
stranger scene can hardly be witnessed
than a cage fun OF snakes making
meal OF nfty or one hundred frogs. IN
their rroadlncHs they Otter swallow one
another. and u o. no unusual thing for
snake 10 back out OF companions
stomach. into which u has pursued
tempting frog Or gopher