The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-15
REPTILES By THE POUND.
klamath Falls. Ore, Spe. Philadelphia
North Americana

North Americana
The snake industry at klamath Falls
bids fair to become important 4 few
weeks ago Postmaster Castel received a
letter from a concern IN Minnesota
making inquiry as to the price Of rep
tiles, and if a shipment could be made 10
a Minnesota snake farm Although the
letter was written on printed letter
heads, the postmaster thought some one
was trying to perpetrate a joke upon
him. He replied, however. and stated
that he would supply all the snakes
wanted at p cents a pound BY re-
turn mail. much to his surprise. came
an order for 400 pounds of snakes, de-
Hvered at the nearest railroad station
The Minnes0tan went on to state that
next season he would make further or
ders an object to Mr.. Castel but ne
would take 500 pounds more this fail.
Snake catching is now the order of the
day here It is a paving business. as
one man can easily capture 100 in a
day, and this represents at least so
pounds
The klamath Falls snakes have a
worldwide 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 mile to the lower lake The
descent IS gradual, and the falls moth
ing more than a rapid mountain stream.
100 yards or more wide, between the two
Ia k6S- This place FORMS sort OF curve
or elbow and was called '-EwaWa by
the Indians, meaning elbow Along
this river or falls. on a. warm day, miles
of snakes, curling, Wrlggling and crawl
ing over each other, is no unusual sight,
and If the weather is 4 little cool. one
has to wait for them TO get out of the
way or take a stick and lift them aside.
as many dc. The stranger, on his first
trip to this section, is continually dOdS-
ing and jumping sidewise, although he
is informed that the reptiles are per
fectly harmless. The inhabitaut doesn't
49, --T-- 80
apronfuls and boys carry small ones
around in their pockets They are re-
garded as pets here generally, and are
seldom harmed. They come down into
the very town, and while walking along
the streets a couple of dozen may be
seen in going a block They simply
Mrigg1e out of the way-crawl between
the cracks Of the plank sidewalk OF
move off to one side The snakes are
regarded as benefactors by the commu-
nifty. and there is some complaint at
parting with the few required to I'LL the
Minnesota mans order,
The reptiles live and breed among the
rocks and cliffs along the fails and II IS
asserted that they have completed routed
the rattIeSuakes from the entire section.
besides destroying all the mice and other
pests that infested the place They attack
known to kill the largest rather q NUM-
Der will wind themselves about the ven
ornous reptile and strange it in q short
time II is claimed that before these
snakes made their appearance the rattIers
dom seen.
The species is said to be a water snake,
and this is evidenced by the fact that
they will take to the water if 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 d
dark color. about three feet long when full
grown and have a stripe a little lighter
than the general color down their back
All sizes may be seen among them. from
the three four-fnch baby snake to the
full grown ones. On warm day they are
visible by the thousands. and in many
cases they coil up by the dozens in huge
rolls. Pictures Of these rolls have been
sent. upon inquiry, all over the world A
farmer living in the gulch by the hanks
Of the river has great difficulty in using
his hay at the last Of the winter The
snakes take refuge in his barn during the
cold weather and as the hay gets low
he finds great masses Of the hanTrnt RED
reptiles rolled together all through the
hay
It is believed here that tons Of the
snakes could De shipped from this place
annually without materially decreasing
the supply and the Industry may prove
paving one Snake oil commands an ers,r-
selves and are prepared to gran corces-
NOUS price for medicinal purposes and il
Is known that q superior quality Of the
oil can be manufactured from the EZla-
maxn Falls species