Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-10-25
ALLIGATOR FARMING.
Ioln Fuckers Artful Method OF
Hooking Saurians.

Hooking Saurians.
On our return we stopped at the
farm of the champion alligator
snatcher. 1t Is a peculiar convolute
of dams, log huts and palm leaf pa
vilions in the midst of rubber trees
and cocoa palms. A regiment OF
stuffed crocodiles, among them a
giant gagged at 100 years of age by
an expert, is lined up near the pic
turesque entrance.
The real farm begins Immediately
behind the exhibition hall. There Is
declivity by the shore of the lake,
the lower portion of which dips into
the water while the upper portion
is dry and is planted with palms and
bushes. The entire spot is surround
ed by wooden fence and divided
into compartments. In the first or
these about sixty crocodiles lie about
in terrifying state of quiet. From
afar they seem as one with the sand
banks on which they lie.
was anxious to gather large
group within the radius of my lens
and endeavored to find a suitable po-
sition on the fence. Alligator Joe
exclaimed, "We'll fix that all right
and took a long plank and tickled
the ribs of one of the LATEST, most
vigorously and unceremoniously.
Thereupon the eXasperated beast
gave vent to a peculiar Kissing note.
similar to the snoring of locomo-
tive as the steam escapes. Gradually
she began to move, while Joe contin-
ued' to poke at her rear elevation.
In this manner he succeeded in gath
ering a few prize specimens into
circle, where they stood in group
with wide thrown jaws. | was able
to perpetuate fifteen of these ungain-
ly Inhabitants on my plate.
Alligator Joe is likely man of
middle age He has made quite
fortune by catching and rearing his
kindergarten. On the average he
receives 500 for every full grown
saurian. But as it is gained so it is
lost again. 1t is a thirsty trade
which the brave mentor practices,
and when he returns from his pill
lage to Mosquito Bay, whittier the
finest specimens are drawn from the
tip of the Florida finger, he invites
all of West Palm Beach to gigantic
treat a la Rodenstein and chases his
entire profit down parched throats in
a few days.
Alligator Joe has never been bitten
or wounded, although this has often
happened to others. He walks about
in his alligator coop without fear. He
stands and sits upon the largest of
them, even rides on them while en-
bracing their chests. The general
belief is that he has studied the an.
tics of the beast so well that he is
always prepared for the next move.
The bite should not be as dangerous
as a blow from their powerfully
welded tails.
Joe does not disclose the secret
of his art. Many declare that he
catches the gators by means of the
lasso; others believe that he strikes
them below the tail with a harpoon
But he is silent as the Sphinx.
Among his accomplishments is that
of telling tales, as many as one has
patience or desire to listen to. One
Of them, for the veracity of which
cannot vouch, concerns a certain Tom
Fucker, who for several years en-.
joyed most universal respect and
envy for gathering in more saurians
than all the other nimrods combined.
One and all tried hard to explain his
unheard Of success and for long
time endeavored to get on to his
tricks. At last peddler espied Tom
one day on Dunn Creek as he was
lying on huge log which reached
out into the stream. One of Toms
legs was hanging into the water
Presently the peddler noticed him
pulling in his :, while large alli'
gator stirred up the mud into a
thick cream with mighty thrashing
of his tail near by. Toms leg was
partially concealed in the beasts
throat. But this did not seem to
cause the bitten one much worry.
On the contrary, he drew. a large
bowie and drove it into the soft parts
of the bitter. Then he calmly pro.
ceeded to unscrew his leg. He was
the proud possessor of wooden leg,
the exterior of which was studded
with nails. AS soon as the alligator
bit into it the nails penetrated the
Jaw and held him prisoner. Thus
the practical Tom served as his own
bait.-From the Munchener Medici'
nische Wochenschrift, in the Post
Graduate Magazine.