The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-04-05

The most remarkable story that has
reached Washington from the Philip
pines up to date has been brought back
by Dir. George L. Becker, who was sent
by this government not long ago to
study and report upon the geology and
mineral resources Of the archipelago.
II is a tale of snakes, and guaranteed
as 1t Is the association of SO dlstin-
interest. For, although serpents have
often figured In POPULAR narrative by
dozens or even hundreds, DIR. Becker
describes those he saw as swarming
by tens of thousands over vast areas
of sea In the midst of our new posses
sions.
Il was going by steamer" he says,
from Cebu to Jolo, my route lying
across the sea of Jolo, and | estimate
that ON our way we passed through
about 100 miles of snakes. l watched
them over the side of the vessel, and
there seemed to be no end to their num-
bers. Of course 1t Is impossible to make
n guess worth having In such Il matter.
but by simple method Of computation
| have reckoned that there were about
1900 serpents to each square mile. As
| have said, we passed through 100
miles of them, and II the school was
as broad as 1t was long one might
reckon the entire number OF snakes ut
100000.
81 had often heard Of these sea ser
penis, which swarm In Eastern seas,
swimming on the surface when II Is
calm. In the Gulf of Siam they are
found I'm such numbers that vessels at
anchor commonly thread their cables
through barrels to prevent the reptiles
from climbing up the ropes and coming
aboard. They are true snakes and ex-
tremely venomous. In fact. they are
among the most dangerous of all
snakes, being numbered among the
Thanatophidla, or deadly serpents, OF
that part of the world. A bite inflicted
by one of them is as surely and swiftly
fatal as that OF the dreaded cobra.
Furthermore, they are very fierce and
aggressive. and will attack human be
ings whenever they get chance. Fish
ermen In waters infested by them are
exceedingly afraid of them and exer-
else the utmost precautions when
chance brings them into the nets.
More than thirty species of the
Hydrophlsa. as this family of venom
Gus water snakes is called. are known
to science. Every one OF them is dead
ly. They are found In the open seas.
not frequentlng the shadows. occa-
sionally they are seen In the tidal riv-
ers, and now and then they are thrown
up on the shore by the current. They
seem to be very delicate. and seldom
live long in captivity. Those saw
were three or four feet long, but I'M
derstand that some Of them attain
length of six feet or even more. They
exhibit considerable variety Of form.
Some are distinguished by very long
necks and small heads. while all have
fan-llke tails. Their bodies are much
fattened toward the rear end, so as to
enable them to steer better. Those
saw were black near the head and yell
low on the belly, the black and yellow
combining In very pretty checker
pattern toward the tail.
These marine snakes have long been
regarded as curiosities by naturalists.
1t Is probable that they use their dead
ly venom to kill the fishes on which
ma Ia 81
most entirely by their lungs, which are
Of great size. in order that they may be
enabled to stay under water for long
time. Their eyes are modified for see
Ing In the water, and SO when taken
out Of their natural element they seem
blinded and strike flercely at every
thing. THEIR fangs, like those Of the
cobra, are always erect"-Cincinnati
Enquirer.