The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-12
RAISING ALLIGATORS
IN HOT SPRINGS
Only Two Farms in United
States Where Curios
Are Bred.

1t is claimed that the alligator farm
in Hot Springs. Ark, is larger than
that in ST. Augustine. Fla. and that
these two are the only farms Of the
kind The farm in Hot Spring is on d
small mountain stream tina leeds a
series Of little lakes or pono These
are made use Of to form the breed
ing grounds stock yards" and
winter quarters" for this stock in
6ustry.
There are at eiI times on this farm
between 500 and 500 aIigators, ranging
in size from little baby gators, less
than six inches long. up to Big joe
nearly fifteen feet long. The little fell
lows have all been Matched on the
farm, but the big ones were caught IN
the swamps and bayous Of the South.
Alligator a CannibaI.
The alligator is a cannlbal, and Tor
that reason II Is necessary 10 separate
the ponds by means of heavy wire
netting and to place reptiles or very
nearly the same size in each inclosurc.
Big Joe, the monarch OF the establish
ment. Weighing nearly coo pounds. is
kept by himself. Otherwise, u is al
ligator there.
The eggs are placed In incubatOrs
quite similar 20 those for Matching
chickens. After being Matched the lit
tie ones are placed in a separate in
closure, to prevent their elder brothers
and sisters from eating them. They
grow very slowly so that an alligator
two feet long is about two years Of
age, and one twelve feet long may be
fifteen years or more, Some reach a
length Of sixteen or eighteen feet
Dormant for a Year.
II allowed 10 follow their alternating
habits in captivity. the alligators would
bury themselves in the mud and lie
dormant for nearly half OF the year.
and business would have 10 be suspend
ed during that time on the alligator
farm. Some way had TO be devised for
avoiding. in part, az least, this hiber-
mating instinct. The winter quarters are
in a long. low building divided into
many compartments. Each cOmpart-
Inent contains a pool Of water through
which. run steam pipes. so that the
water can be kept at a constant tenn
peratUre. One small pond will contain
Two nINurtQ or luree hundred amiga
tors
Sale of Baby AlligatoTs.
Hundreds Of baby alligatOrs are sold
every year 10 patrons OF the health re-
sort at Hot Springs for pets. for home
aQuariums, and for curious mementos
TO be sent TO distant friends. For these
purposes little creatures not more than
six inches long are preferred. Reptiles
Of larger size. from two feet IN length
up 20 the largest than can be obtained.
are sold for use as advertising novelties.
and for exhibition in amusement parks,
museums. shows and menageFies- Large
numbers OF all sizes are killed stuffed.
and mounted IN striking or fantastic at
titUdes and used for ornamental and
decorative purposes. The skins are
tanned and manufactured into suit cases,
satchels, handbags. belts. pOcketboOks.
and. in fact, almost anything that can
be made OF leather. The durability.
beauty, and Costumes Of the tanned
hides cause them 10 ne esteemed among
the most desirable OF leather materials.
Even the teeth are not wasted, being
manufactured into small ornaments and
articles of jewelry and sold as Curl
Osities.-St. Nicholas.