Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-05-25
FL0RIDA'S ALLICATORS.
HUNTERS ARE FAST THINNING
THEM OUT.


In Another Year or Two the Timid
Pioaninny May Wade Into the
Streams Without Fear OF Being
Eaten Alive.
One of the chief attractions OF Flor.
Ida the alligator. is becoming extinct.
Certain II Is that the creature il grow
ing less and less until 1t is predicted
that In a decade or two the timid
pickaninny may wade into the slug
gish streams without fear of being
eaten alive.
The tremendous onslaught OF peo-
pie who hunt the alligator for differ.
ent purposes has brought about this
condition. The reptile Is being carried
around the earth In the shape OF
handbags, belts and pocketbooks. UNI
til there are few left to tell the story
of his past greatness.
Not only this, but the little, ones
are taken from the nest as soon as
they pip through the eggs. In this
primitive and miniature state of their
lives they are sold to tourists. alive,
and are shipped or carried to every
section of the north. A little fellow.
scarcely six inches of dark, wriggling
animation, brings from so cents to
$l.5O, and on up to much higher
prices. Many people MAJ living
robbing the nests, whi( .,.S<heen
made on the sand and wsbera ~ -
exposed to the sun hatlcb IN ~ Eggs
of time. The5 are placed in /. s"HSx.
whe-e a b Fred mas---ue seen. the
casual observer noticing no life until
they are disturbed, when the whole
mass begin to scramble over each
other A little fellow IL imprisoned
In cigar box and. shipped according
to address or within of the purchaser
Catching the alligator for his hide
has, more than anything else decimal
ed the tribe. These are made into tray
cling bags and belts and many other
kinds of leather goods The. horned
back hide brings the highest price.
and an ordinary sized pelt OF this kind
brings 81. Others vary from 80 up
Many of the skins are bought for the
Pui pOpN VI hdAhihh NhOtt uU III IVOhHb
adorned by sports, who have a weak
ness for displaying trophies, alleged
sometimes, of the hunt
None OF these hides are tanned or,
dressed here. They are sent north
and come back to meet ready sale
at greatly advanced prices,
For time other uses were made of
dead alligator. His jaws were made
to produce bushels OF teeth, which
are manufactured into all kinds OF
articles-cuff buttons, charms, stick.
pins-and they are strung together In
yard or two of watch chain. The
supply however. became 80 great as
to make them a drug on the market.
The demand fell on until a barrel OF
them could be bought for song.
In other years the alligator fur
nished no end of sport for tourists
who came down the st. Johns River.
He could be plainly seen from
steamboat deck swimming about the
stream. when all kinds of guns would
be brought to bear on the black oh.
ject, until the poor fellow had no
show for his sluggish life. In time,
however, the state stopped this prac-
tice. and now the game must be taken
according to the provisions of the
statute.
The alligator, animate and mani
mate, has been made to serve the
queer fancles OF millions OF visitors
to Florida, AS has been said. they
were bought alive. but II IL the CHS
eled carved, painted nodded and
stuffed alligator that most loosens the
purse strings OF tho souvenir buyer.
A dealer here says that initiation
alligators are the articles most sold
here, There are three leading favor.
lite souvenirs on which the choice of
a buyer is at once conferred. The FIRST
IL the alligator, offered In more than
thousand conceits OF resourcefuI
designer. Then comes the coat of
arms which was found cut In the
stones of tho ancient city gates. The
third choice Is the orange knife. but
on the latter carved alligator IL
often made to do service for a handle.
Perhaps no tribe OF idolaters ever
worshiped an lnanimate object, per.
chance the costly work OF the skilled
magicians and artisans, as do the
great mass OF people who come down
here and carry wear or ship away
this ugly, repulsIve representative OF
animal creation. Exchange