West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-03-06
They Started Out With 4OO-Iast
Year They Killed 100, 900 and Next
Year NAY Kill goo, 900.


formerly farmers and stock breeders, but
they have found in the snakes more money
by far than in the growing Of corn, wheat
aud other farm products, or in the breeding
of cattle. Two years ago they inclosed
two acre tract of land and specially prepared
i, for the propagation OF snakes. Since then
they have doubled the extent of their
acreage and they arc preparing TO make ex-
tensiyc additions next year.
The two men started out with 400 snakes.
Las, year they killed 100 600 for their oil.
They will probably kill 400. 900 uext year.
The reptiles, they say, require bu, little
attention. a I5-year-old Sirl, Bertha
Lowden, daughter Of one of the farm at
tendants, has charge Of 10000 snakes and
and manages them all by herself. She likes
her occupation and several Of the larger
reptiles are claimed as her pets. Feeding
the reptiles is but a small part Of her duties,
the girl declares.
1.-Two meals a month are all that are nee
essaty for the snakes to eat and keep fat,
said Bertha. "In winter | do not feed them
at all. They could live and keep in fairly
good condition by eating bat twice a year,
but Ne feed them often because we want 20
keep them fat so they will produce lots of
oil. None of the snakes l have in my charge
will bite. Many Of them will crawl toward
me when / come about them aud they do
not object to my taking them in my hand "
Snakes oil is used for medical and lubri-
eating purposes. II is said to make the
finest lubricant known. Mr.. r. W. Wise
man, member Of the firm, says that the
world is just beginning to realize the aciua!
value Of the oil and that there are hundreds
Of uses to which it might be applied that
are yet not recognized 1t will only be a
few years, he says, until snake raising will
be recognized industry in the country, and
large capital will be invested in it, as there
is to-day in the raising of sheep, hogs and
cattle.
Every species of reptiles that would live
in the Indiana climate was experimental
with in deciding on the kinds that were the
most prolific for oil. As result the brothers
have found the garter snake and the com
mon house snake best adapted to their pur-
poses. Not only are they the best oil pro-
ducers, but they are more propagable and
much harder. Many species had to be
discarded because of their inability to sur
yive the winter
ga snake properly fed and cared for"
| said w. NJ. Wseman, ''can be matured for
oil producing purposes in three months.
They multiply so rapidly when domesuca,ed
that from pair may b. grown 1000 in
| two years. We have about 100 females to
I male. The former are larger and better
oil producers. All our snakes are oviparous,
and considerable care has to b. taken in
seeing that they do not devour the eggs Of
each other. One will lay from 10 to 2s
eggs in a well-sunned spot. The snake is
most fragile when It is shedding This
they do several times year, often as much
as once every two months. Before shed
ding they are blinded by the change in
skin over the eyes, and at This time they
are very irritable.
"While a snake is very hardy in many
respects, it is exceedingly frail in others. Il
| can be killed by a very small spider An ordi-
nary craw6sh that often iufesis the ponds
we have for the reptiles will kill snake ia
less time than it takes TO tell about it when
in his reach. They are poisoned by human
saliva. Spit on a snake and he will die in
less than two hours. They cannot endure
the scent of cultivated flowers q"
The "ophda" raised by the Wiscmaus
for commerce have rather short. fal bodies.
They rarely attain length of more than
four feet When being fauened they are
fed ON frogs, young chickens, birds, mice,
small FISH and other small animals The
food is served them alive, and they swallow
&c intact The snake farm IS well stocked
with ponds end grass The reptiles not in
the fattening pens arc allowed 90 roam al
will within the inclosure in SUMMER fine,
but n winter they arc bcrded 70 The hiber
mating beds from which they do not emerge
until summer again.
Otber kinds of snakes besides the oil pro.
dueers are also raised by the Wisemans. bal
merely as a side issue and for experimental
purposes. For these they fnd market io
travelling msnagcrics. muscuns and zooi5si.
ca gardens The great amount attention
necessary for mos, Of lbis kind, they claim.
makes them comparatively Improbable
They have To- be housed up in wioter aod
KEEP under strict surveillance i1 summer.
The urge African reptiles are more delicate
than any others
visit 60 the Indiana snake farm is inter.
esdng notwithstanding the uncanny environ.
ment The reptiles are tame and will crawl
about over their keepers feet and willingly
submit To- handling. The od snakes arc
not poisonous Snakes by ,hc hundreds arc
seen gliding about in all directions % q,
no place for limid persons who have fancifal
supcrutions or aversion ~ reptiles Under
the trees they keep Che leaves iu a constant
rattle and a visitor has to bc cautions to
avoid trampling on thcm They have uo
hcsilaocy in climbing zap pesou's leg and
they have 90 be pulled away with the hand.
! Great herds Of them arc seen crawling about