The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17
CATCH RArTLESVAKES now.
THE SPORT NOR so DANGEROT y
To THE EXPERT As IT SEEMS.
The Reptiles LetharGio After Their I.ong
winters Sscsp--TNey Do Climb Trees
Their Habits and Their Appetues
! An Indians Cure for Rattiesnske
Bite Believed to he Effective.

bNo V"e'" ~ be tHerINc
LoSo EDDY, n. r.. May ls.-wih the
return 81 the warm weather Of spring
people living In parts of tho countr nv in,
tested with rattlesnakes keep a sharp look.
ont in their travels FOR these pests For
though the snakes seldom bite, even when
they have an opportunity. unless irritated
or tredden upon. yet one does not, from
choice. get within striking distance of
their fangs.
The increasing demand for these reptiles
for museums, menageries and sideshows
for exhibitich at agricultural fairs in the
large coup<ry towns proves that in spite
OF their appearance there Is something
about gem that attracts attention. Ac-
eordirSEy, In every locality where rattle
snak,' are plentiful there is always some one
to Visit their dens and capture as many as
possible OF the larger shakes, for they bring
rS nunerative prices.
Catching them is by no means a dam
Verous occupation, though II may seem
such 10 those nnacquainted with the habits
OF these reptiles. Armed simply with a
sick five or six feet long, 40 one end of
which is attached AN iron hook In shape
like the neck Of hoe, and another stick
half as long, ia one end of which ia
tied STOUT cord, the loose end of which
terminstes in moose, and ACCOMPANIED
by an assistant carrying Il sack or bag.
the ravlesnake catcher is ready for work.
He repairs upon q warm day in spring
Z" sns dens in search of his prey. The
CHS are spots upon the barrens of loose
Nope or openings under lodges Of rock,
through which the rattlers crawl TO their
winter, quarters. To these quarters they
g. on tho hrst sppearancs OF cold weather
IN the fall and remain till warm weather
epnles again.
With the appearance OF warm weather
the snakes crawl to the open air from their
dark. damp winter quarters. at first care
hilly shielding themselves from the direct
rays Of the sun and becoming gradually
used to the light and heat by keeping for
few days under the edge of the stones
OF in the Tevices Of the rocks. After lying
about the dens in a semi torpid condition
fer several days, having regained their
normal condition after their long winters
ssp IN underground darkness, they start
on their summer cruise in search Of food
While the rattlsrs are thus lying dump
'shly about the den the suake-catcher takes
ANoptpBS " tuclI lctIkfStC CCntlt1On.
With the hook he draws them out from
rbe;r comfortable quarters, and quickly
clipping the moose over their heads, drops
them into the sack, which is hsld open by
his assistant. With knife he cuts the
string as near the reptiles head as safety
VIII warrant, fixes another moose and is
V.dy for another snake.
In this manner sometimes twenty or
thirty, or evan mora, may no caught in
one day. They seldom struggle in the
sack and never try to bite. Scoring to
underr; and that they are poweress, they
~ilEagly submit to the Inevitable The
writer has seen a man throw over his
she ulcer II bag containing sixteen large
r9rtlesnskes and carry them without fear.
The Tattlesnakes are prolific br eeders,
single snake frequently giving birth 10
dozen or more young ones, each provided
With 4 rattle. The number of rattles js
generally supposed to Indicate the age Of |
the snake. a year being allowed for each |
ons. Rst thsy frequently lose them, and |
j Ia no uncommon occurrence 70 find very
large snake with few rattles and sometimes
shh none. and. in like manner, a COM
Tarstively small one may have q large
number.
BY many persona it Is supposed that the
olack RATHER Is the female and the yellow
be male. But color Is no distinction Of
'fx.
The rattleenske travels by night as we'll
y by day. and In the course Of the season