The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-13
CONE TO JOIN THE BISON.
The Florida Alligators Nearly Extermin-
ated by Hunters.

Inc EIOxlu0 AlhSuHoEp <suotS
ated by Hunters.
Persons who visited Florida few
years ago end saw the rivers. swamps
and bayous literally teeming with
countless thousands of alligators. VIII
he surprised TO learn that these large
rer:t lies are fast becoming extinct. The
constant and wholesale warfare that
has been waged against them has
thinncd them out SO completely that
unless n halt is soon called their total
determination Is only matter of time.
While they We're formerly numerous
rs far north rs Georgia. they have
gradually become extinct until now
they are found in great numbers only
along the coast line Of the extreme
Southern States. In Florida they are
practically extinct. with the exception
of Mapatee. Lee. DeSoto and Dade
counties. In the Everglades the spe-
cies have probably been more numer'
Gus than in any other portion OF the
world. for the reason that It has been
well-nigh impossible to get to them.
In this almost impregnable swamp na-
turc has defended them so well that
II a hunter succeeded In penetrating 1t
and killing his game. he was frequent
IL unable TO secure II.
1t was no: until the hide Ct the
saurian became. factor OF commerce
that Its determination began In ear-
nest. The skins. when tanned. make
excellent leather for the manufacture
of such articles as trunks. travelling
bags. purses. pocketbooks and all kinds
of leather novelties. Books are also
bound with II. and II Is even used for
upholstering chairs. Dade County. on
the east coast Of Florida. sends to mar.
ket about $4,000 skins annually. while
the number from the counties on the
west coast reaches fully 125.OOO each
year. There !s one firm in New Or'
leans that handles over 100000 skins
annually.
In addition to the wholesale slaugh.
ter Of large alligators for commercial
purposes. n feature Of recent develop
ment Is the preparation Of young ones
for the summer trade. Dealers pm!
SIS a hundred for the little reptiles
while they are from FIVE to ten incies
In length. They are disemboweled.
picked In a preserving solution. stin-
ened BY the insertion OF wires Into
their bodies. stuffed with sawdust and
then vanished. They are mounted
on pin cushions. pin and jewelry trays.
paper weights. etc. and retailed NJ m
average of fifty cents each. One firm
In Florida sells every winter thousands
of these little stuffed "'gators" to
tourists. and as many more thousands
every summer at Asbury Park and
other Northern resorts.
I'm addition to being preyed upon BY
the curio hunter. the young alligator
is also beset by birds Of prey and large
fish. 1t is even devoured In grea; num-
hers BY the hardened males Of Its own
species, so that altogether Its young
existence is altogether precarious. IT
is falling by the wayside at such an
alarming rate that the future OF its
kind is in serious jeopardy.
The saurian lives to ripe old age.
ranging from 100 to $50 years. They
generally travel In groups and the
hunter who bags one looks around for
others and nearly always finds them.
There are seldom less than three or
four together. and sometimes rs many
as fifty.
Since the skins Of the alligator have
become such valuable articles OF COM
merce. all countries where they thrive
are being secured for them A New
York firm recently sent q band OF SEM
mole Indians to India to hunt them.
Most OF the skins used In the United
States come from Mexico. while nearly
NIL the product Of this country goes to
Europe. Florida formerly produced
more skins than any other portion OF
the United States. but now furnishes
less than any other section. where the
reptiles are to be found 1t all.-lE'
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