The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-17
PRICED SNAKES OF OREGON.
Residents of klamath Fails Make
/ Pets of Them
(FEom lbe PortIaad OregonLan.l

Pets of Them
(Fron the Portland oregonian.)
The snake industry at klamath Falls
bids :air 20 become important few
weeks ago Postmaster CasteI received a
letter from 4 concern in Minnesota max
ing enquiry as to the price Of the reptiles
and If a shipment could be made TO a
ter was written on printed letter heads,
the postmaster thought someone was try
ing to peTpetrate q joke upon hi-a. He re-
piled, however, and stated that IL would
supply ali the snakes wanted al % cents
pound. By return mail, much TO his
surprise, came an order for 500 pounds
OF snakes. delivered at the nearest rail-
state that next season be would make fur
Their orders an object to Mr.. CasteI. but he
would take 500 pounds more this fall Snaks
catching is now the order of the day here.
Il is a paying business. as one man can
easily capture 100 day, and this repre-
sents at least fifty pounds.
The klamath Falls snakes have world
wide reputation. The town is situated at
the foot Of Klamath Falls. which begin at
Upper klamath Lake and continue through
a narrow, rocky gulch for a mile to the
lower lake The descent is gradual and
the falls nothing more than a rapid noun
tain stream 100 yards OF more wide be-
tween the two lakes. This place forms a
sort Of curve, or elbow, and was called
Ewawa by the Indians, meaning elbow
Along this river or falls on q warm day
miles of snakes. curling wriggling, and
crawling over each other. is no unusual
sight, and If the weather is Z little cool
one has TO wait for them to get out of
the way or take stick and lift them aside
as many do. The stranger on his first trip
to this section is continually lodging and
jumping sidewise. although he is Informed
that the reptiles are perfectly harmless
The inhahitant doesn't mind them at all
Little girls gather apronfuls and boys carry
small ones around in their pockets. They
are regarded as pets here generally. and
are seldom harmed They come down into
the very town, and while walking along the
streets couple of dozen may be seen in
going block They simply wrigEIe nut of
the way-crawI between the cracks of the
plank sidewalks or move off to one side.
The snakes are regarded as benefactors by
the community. and. there is some com
plant at parting with the few required to
ill the Minnesota mans order.
The reptiles live and breed among the
rocks and cliffs along the falls. and II is
asserted that they have completely routed
the ratGlesnakes from the entire section.
besides destroying all the mice and other
pests that Eafested the place. They attack
q EatlESsDabS anu WINE one alone ms been
known 20 kill the largest RATHER. nuno
her wiz Wind themselves about the ven
omous zoe tile and strange it in short
time. 1t = claimed that before these
snakes made their appearance the rattfers
infested the region, but they are now sell
dom ceen.
The species is said to be water snake.
and this IS evidenced by the fact that thev
viii take to the water IL there is no other
means OF escape when crowded, and move
about in that element with the ease and
skill of fish. They are of a dark color
about three feet long when full grown and
have stripe little lighter than the gem
eraI color down their back All sizes NAV
be seen among them. from the three or
fouT-inch baby snake to the fulI-grown
ones. On q warm day they are visible by
the thousands and IN many cases they coli
up by the dozens in huge rolls Pictures
of these rolls have been sent, upon en-
quiry. all over the world. A farmer Iiv-
ing in the gulch by the banks Of she river
has great difficulty in using his hay at the
last of winter. The snakes take refuge IN