Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-11
RATTLERs ARE HER FAD.
California Girl Catches the Reptiles and Makes Good Thing
 Out of 1t.

cupaIlOn 1OllOWeQ Dy a WOmdn IS that of Miss Grace Somers, of Cali fornia. She lives with an uncle on a ranch near Sonora, and has for some time past been engaged in the novel occupation of catching rattle snakes, with which the region abounds, and is earning by that means handsome sum of money. every year. She has small parcel of, ground set apart for her individu- al use, which she has named her rat tlesnake farm, states the Chicago Chronicle.
 T wanted to do something to earn money, and there's not much girl can do whose lot is cast on a lonely cattle range" says Miss Somers. II was born in St. Louis. After l grad uated from business college 1 had good position as typewriter in law yer's office. Then my mothers health failed, and we came to California. Through letters I obtained respon- sible position in San Francisco. We came to California too late, though, to save my mothers life, and the grief at losing her and the worrying over my office work soon told on me- I held out for almost year, and then collapsed. The doctor said l needed complete rest and change, so I came up here to my uncle's ranch, where the bracing mountain air has almost restored me to health.
 In my rambles about the hills l often startled snakes from the rocks and brush, and invariably watched them glide away. l wanted to ob- serve their beautifully marked skins. One day Jim, a cowboy on the ranch, killed rattler and brought the skin to the house. l had read a comment on the fashion of wearing snake skin belts, and I thought what a fine one this beautiful skin would make, so I sent it to the city and ordered a belt made of it. That gave me my skin belts,' thought, why shouldn't I supply skins for the market?'
 'So 1 wrote to firm in San Fran cisco, and asked them if they would buy any fine rattlesnake skins. They jumped at the offer and that was my start. Later, I discovered I could mount the skins into belts just as handsomely as the hands they em- ployed. Now I send the belts all over the United States. l do not make the snake skin purses myself. For the snake skins mounted into belts l re- ceiye from four to ten dollars, ac- cording to the size and beauty of the skins. The skins suitable for purses net me about one dollar apiece"
 Miss Somers laughed at the idea of carrying along whisky as an anti dote for snake bites. q couldn't lug along enough of it to be of any use, and there are no nfoonshiners' stills in these mountains to tap. There is always little hope of preserving the life of anyone unfortunate enough to be bitten, providing there are powerful alkalis at immediate hand for prompt application. For such an emergency I always carry a reticule containing a bottle of am. monia, stick of nitrate of silver and cloth bandage to bind tightly around the wound in order to cut of circulation till the poison's strength
 
 But I don't place too much re- lance on them,' she added, frankly ''I believe in the ounce of prevention and my greatest protection is tire less vigilance.
 Tt keeps me busy all the time i either catching the snakes or mount i ing the skins into belts. Of course when I'm hunting, I wear short skirt, padded leggings and a stout l pair of gauntlets. If I'm going any distance I ride over and tether my 1 horse while I scare up the snakes or foot Snakes love to snuggle among warm, sunny rocks or in the soft I dry, rotten wood under dead tree I aim to find rattlers first, of course but I'm always ready to catch any other kind that crosses my path Many of the harmless ones have i skins with beautiful markings tha, can be sold for purses at good profit
 'I'm more than satisfied with the amount of money I have made l You'd be surprised if I told you my earnings for the last six months i No, I'm not afraid of other women 1 crowding me out of this field," ano Miss Somers laughed lightly.