Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-10-14

Ktae.eto2 thought Of and less known
by the thousands upon
thousands Of winter visitors who see
these immense saurians basking in the
sun or lazily lounglng upon the edges
II the "slides" in the pens at Palm
Beach or Miami where they are kept
IN captivity for exhibition purposes.
Neither in captivity do they appear to
be the quick, alert and rapid-movihg
creatures that they really are.
AS is well known, there is only one
'eglon of the United States where these
lnimals are found in native state,
ind that is along the lower coast OF
Florida, a very few being found along
Biscayne Bay, but in large numbers
Town among the numerous small ISL
,nds or keys further south and in the
vicinity of Flamingo and Cape Sable.
they inhabt the mangroye marshes
md swumps, and are hard to get at
W any one, even Il native Florida
Jracker or Seminole Indian. They can,
VI course, be shot, especially by fire.
light, but as the dead "dlle" is only
worth so much MS his skin VIII bring
IL the market, his value when dead Is
not near so great as If captured alive,
md very few are ever killed by the
Ipative hunters. There are numbers
,owever. who hunt him to capture him
alive, and the methods adopted for his
,apture are securely guarded by the
successful hunter. 1t is said that only
two or three, at most, know of these
methods, and it was only by chance
hat the writer obtained the informa-
ion that is here given.
A crocodile in his native haunts is
not only so quick at hearing, seeing,
,melling, and it would seem at feel
| ng, that the ordinary layman may have
title hope of ever securing good spec
linen alive unless by the merest OF ac-
cidents. They are swift to dive, run
or swim, sink in the mud and lay so
still that no ripple of water will betray
their presence, while they will smell a
"tenderfoot" at such a distance that
all he will see upon his arrival Is
streak of muddy water, showing that
his "dileship" was there, but at present
is chuckllng to himself at the bottom
| of some deep marine cave, where he is
roing to stay until all intrunders are
| zone, and as he only has to eat two or
hree times year. and can get on well
ud stay fat on less, hunger Is not like
| to drive him forth. He is different
rom his first cousin, the alligator, who
dull, lazy, hungry always and gen
rally fearless and full of curiosity to
see what all strangers look like, and
ONES up to see, thus falling an easy
| prey to the rifles of his enemies.
To successfully capture the crocodile
a good roomy boat is secured that is
very shallow of draught, so as to ell
able it to easily float among the mum
,rous creeks and shadows into which
it is destined to go. This boat is load
cd with good stock of camping uten
sils, food and water Chere is no drink
ing or fresh water to be found among
he lower Florida keys, and a gooc
supply of ropes, planks, axes ant
,pades. Thus equipped you arrive a
he grounds and establish your CAM
| II what looks to be good locality from
The signs, both old and fresh. These
animals are not migratory, and unless
from good cause rarely ever leave tht
ocallty in which they were Matched
Though they may nave range vi
four or five miles in search Of food.
The party now separates in small
boats and begins the search for caves
mp and down along the muddy banks
of deep, muddy, ill-defined creeks ant
inland lakes, and having found cave
hey next ascertain If it is in use, ant
T. so is the ollie" large enough to cap
ture, and If he is, and the hunters art
professionals, his doom is sealed, for
although the crocodile may be off on
junketing expedition in search of foot
or on visit to his relatives, the hunter
is not in the least discouraged, for
patient and secret watch is set ant
when he is seen in the vicinity he l:
easily frightened and runs to his cave
This cave is hole about two feet il
circumference on the banks of thu
creek or lake. and may extend bacl
sixty or seventy-fivc feet under tn,
ground into the woods. but is Away
near the earth's surface, and in thi
retreat his "dileship" feels secure
However, his enemies first go to TIL
mouth of his cave, and secretly faster
it up with boards and planks brough
along for that purpose. Next the un
derbrush is partially cleared away anC
soundings are made to ascertain an(
locate the cave. Then blocks and tackl,
are brought and set up, fastened secure
ly to an adjacent tree, and then oil be
ing in readiness, hole about tel
inches square is dug down so as to strikt
the cave and through this hole Is in
serted the rope with a slip moose at thu
end of it, which moose so hangs tina
when the crocodile passes along hi
cave it will catch him around the neck
A sharp stick is then showed down, ant
the animal, receiving the prod, run'
along the cave and right into the traI
set for him. Immediately the maj
hauls away on his blocks and tackle
| dutl Lbs uSuut SSCuASA III INC AVOSSI ~
hauled up in the hole, which is no
large enough to permit his body to pas
through; the end of his nose is pulled
through, however, in spite Of the ter
rife struggles Of the saurian, and Sc
curely tied with ropes.
Then the hole is enlarged and hi
cad, neck and forefeet are pulled
through and securely fastened and TIVE
stout scantllngs are now drawn along
ach side Of him, and to these he is Sc
curely tied or wrapped by numerous
turns Of the stout rope, great care be
ing taken to hold him down in the holt
until all that is outside is securely fas
tened. Now he is drawn out slowly
and slowly wrapped to his scantlings
until at last the dreadful tail is secure
ly dashed to two stout scantlings ant
his dlleship is a helpless prisoner. i