The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-03

| that if any snakes did get away they
| they could not live long as there was
nothing for them here to eat. Roth
| Mr.. Gear and Mr. Thompson expressed
| themselves as thinking that it was a
proper thing to import live snakes as
| they would make an interesting exhibit
at the Zoo.
/ AUTHORITIES GET BUSY.
Prof. Alexander Craw, inspector Of
| the Board of Agriculture, upon learn
| ing the snakes had been landed COM
| municated with A. w. Carter and l..
| A. Thurston of the Board of Agricul-
| ture, who accompanied him to Collec-
tor Stackables and entered their pro-
| test against the landing of the snakes.
Mr.. Bryan stated openly that he
would not grant a permit for the land
| ing of the snakes, even if Mr.. Gear
made a formal application. He stated
as his grounds that the law absolute
ly prohibited the landing of poisonous
snakes. There We're over 5000 vari-
cites of snakes and nobody but an ex-
pert could tell the poisonous from the
harmless. He was not an expert and
he would not take the responsibility of
landing any snakes. Mr.. Gear stated
he had ordered the snakes in good faith
believing he had n right to do so, but
he did not expect them so early. He
did not know whether they were
poisonous or not.
At this stage, Mr.. Stackable asked
Mr.. Gear if he would agree to import
no more snakes and sell those now
here if he were paid the invoice value
and the freight. Mr.. Gear replied in
the affirmative This amounted to So
which amount was promptly paid to
Mr.. Gear and receipted for by him.
Messrs Carter and Thurston shared
with Mr.. Stackable the expense or
purchasing the reptiles, which were
then handed over to Mr.. Craw, who
placed them in the fumigating cham
Der. On removing the boxes from the
death chamber, Mr.. Craw raised the
lid of one box. There was rustl1ng
and suddenly one snake raised Itself
I'D and eyed Mr. Craw. The latter
slammed down the cover and closed
up the chamber again.
At 1870 the chamber was again
opened after an hour and half I'M
mersion in a deadly gas, and all che
snakes were apparently dead. But on
lifting up a big rattlesnake, it show
ed considerable life and for third
time the reptiles were put in the gas
chamber and this time they were kill
ed. The display of the dead reptiles
on the Oceanic wharf brought dig
crowd about. The majority of Hawai-
ians have never seen a live snake
Others present said they had seen
snakes before. but did not state un-
der what circumstances.
The snakes were imported in three
small wooden boxes, two the size OF ali
apple box and one much smaller
The box in which the rattlers were
contained was of the fimsiest con-
.truction. the top and sides being OF
boards only a quarter of an inch in
thickness. The top was completely
shattered and lying in bits on top Of
the box A lightly tackled on wire net
ting open at several points, was alI
that kept the reptiles from escaping.
THE LAW IN THE CASE.
The following correspondence ex-
plains itself:
No. 765.
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of Honolulu. Hawaii,
February 18th. 1902.
The Honorable. The Secretary of the
Treasury, Division of Customs, Wash
ingtOn, D. c.
Sir: L have the honor to report that,
at the present time, no snakes or
poisonous reptiles are found in the Ter
-itory of Hawaii excepting centipedes
and scorpions and they are not con-
;idered as dangerous or deadly poison
,us.
If in order and consistent with the
-ules of the Department, l most re
pectfully suggest that me- sures he
dopted to prevent the landing at any
,ort in the Territory. from foreign
,orts. or from the Continental port |
f the United States, or from any port
y our InsuIar Posse ssfons Of any ALI Z
.4tors. lizards. snakes. tortOises or [
Their reptiles.
In this connection, l also re rpectfulIy '
iIggesr that measures be adopted to z
revent the landing at any continental il
ort of the United States. or at any t
,,r, T,,s,rI47. r1c=EaSef0US Of fl- l y