Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-25

reptiles fore feet and e as relns. II
is needless to say that Il is only by the
exercise Of considerable skill that the hun
ter keep his seat through the struggles
Of the reptile. and II care is not used the
fun may develop into tragedy for the
rider.
Ailigators three feet and more in length
are generally killed at once, and the hide
removed. All Of the hide except the ridge
Of the back. which is very bony, is used.
The hide is sailed, and is then in condi-
ton for ssle to the buyers, who are usually
storekeepers, who furnish provisions and
ammunition In exchange.
The hides range in value, TO the hunter
from 20 cents for a three foot hide to
Ms for one seven feet or moro IN length.
The five and six foot hides are the most
desirable. as the larger ones have a hard
piece Of bone In the square checks on the
hide, and it is impossible to sew through
this. Nearly all the tanning is done at
Newark. n. ].
Tourists Buy Freely.
Young alligators are often brought in,
and these are worth about s cents apiece.
The eggs are also gathered and sell for
2h cents each. They are mainly sold to
curio dealers, who either hatch them out
or blow them and sell the shells. Most of
the small alligators are stuffed and sold
as curios TO tourists, who pay from 50
cents to 81 apiece for them.
Many of them used to be shipped north
alive by tourists as presents. Owing to
Ignorance as 10 how the animal should be
cared for many Of these soon die.
If properly cared for the young alligator
will thrive even in unnatural clrcum-
stances. Its main requirement is sufficient
heat Its diet should consist of bits or
fresh meat, insects and worms. They often
show great fondness for the ordinary earth
worms and will frequently refuse all food
but these. The larger speciments in cap
tivity are fed about three times q week on
fresh meat and small live animals. and
they require little attention other than this.
Aliigators' teeth, which are secured by
burying the head until they have rotted
out, are Of fine ivory and for carving into
ornaments. They are worth to the hunter
about 81 a pound-from fifty to seventy
five teeth. The dealers will not buy very
many of them as there is but a limited
demand. t one time the paws were saved
and mounted as curios, but It is impossible
to do anything with them now.
Both flesh and eggs are eaten by a few
persons, but 1t requires a very hardy
stomach to stand the dIsagreeable. musky
odor.
Gator Tail a D~eIicacy.
There is nothing better, hunters declare
than the tip of the tail of an alligator
which has reached, say, the pullet period
II is creamy in color. tasting a little lik.
frogs legs, hut with a more pronounced
gamy flavor, juicy--altogether tempting
The dish is a great favorlte with the crack
ers of Florida.
Alligator tails are best at the time %
the rice bird season. The big alligator
float in the water with only their eye
showing. When an alligator gets near
flock of these fat, juicy, little birds i
dives TO the bottom. Its long wide snou
scoops up some of the loan, and it feat.
to the surface again with just the rich sol
showing.
TIE birds think It is an island. They
alight upon It. When the whole family II
there the big beast turns suddenly. JUS
as the birds scramble off the alligator
opens It's mouth once. They are gone.
The birds are neat little feeders, and tn
alligator is an epicure at this time Of tn
year. The rice bird diet makes the tip o
It's tail tender and sweet.
In st. Augustine is an alligator farm
one of two in the United States, the othel
being at the Hot Springs in Arkansas
Here the alligators are kept in confinement
until large enough for market.
1t will probably be news to many tia
Florida mas a representative of tho croco
die family. This animal was first sup
posed to be confined to the West Indie
ind South America, but 1t has been &C
casionally captured on the peninsula Q
Florida. 1t is easily d~lstinguishable fror
the alligator by it's narrow snout. Fo
many years scientists were sceptical Of re
ports from Florida Of the appearance G
this animal IN that state, but the captur
OF several fine specimens in recent year
has settled all doubts in regard to Il.