The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-23
ALLIGAToRs FACE DOOM.
21nnsarcd Of Hide Hunters Now In the
S"sth-a7S,OOO Hides Tanned An
nuAily and Placed OH the Market.


could see aligators I'm almost ever
stream and bayou twenty years age
nut now ono may frequently spen
months travelling through this regivl
and not see a single alligator excep
IN captivity.
The killing of the creatures 70
snort or for their hides has been tn,
main cause OF their great decrease 4,
numbers In addition thousands O
the young have been killed or shipped
away. while enormous numbers o.
tho eggs have been gathered and solo
as curios
IL was not until about 1856 that the
0emand for alligator leather became
of Importance. The market was no,
Aonx continued. In 1865 fashion again
called for the leather for manufactur.
sns INTO fancy slippers. travelling bags
beits. card cases. music rolls. etc. The
demand has continued to the present
and many thousands Of the animals
have been killed. while the prepara-
eion et the skins has given employ
zaent to hundreds OF people.
Outpsn of Tanneries.
The output Of the tanneries of this
country approximates 275,0OO skins
annually. worth about $425.000. part
sSS whlch come from Mexico and Gen.
aza1 America. I; Is estimated that
about 3.S0o.000 aliigators were killed
In FLORIDA alone between 1880 and
1ses. nearly 10000 being killed in
1sOs.
uns earliest settlers In the Southern
Estates found alligators or, as they
ware then called. crocodiies, exceed
anuls abundant In almost all streams,
sapscialiy In Fiorida and Louisiana.
nany marvellous tales are found in
the early chronicles Of the ravages OF
hese monsters. They were said to
esi dcgs and pigs and to consider the
negro an especially succulent tidbit.
vwlaile u was considered dangerous to
So INTO a stream where they were
: kre~n'ts exist. When such a stream
= had to NJ crossed hours were spent
.s'soussthnes IN beating II to frishten
/. a. the sn'sators.
Tho researches OF scientists have
shown that there Ia very slight foun-
dation for such stories and a. is prob
sSAe sAaf greater number Of the
plss ,vA ny the planters could have
rbeen traced to other enemies particu-
,iariy two-foeted ones. while runaway
slaves would naturally encourage the
ll,A,ie6 flsas alligators had dined on
utrem.
Florida Furnished Supply.
The greater part of the iupply of
alligator leather now comes from
H1orida. and owing 70 excessive hunt
1ng the Industry Is profitabie only in
the central part Of the peninsula. to
what u called the Lake Okeechobee
irssten and In the Everglades. Here
xhe principal hunters are Seminole
Indians. who nave their homes far
back In the Everglades. and who
come TO the settlements only when In
need Of articles themselves.
The alligator Is most active at nigh,
and It's days are usually spent lyine
ON some low bank or log overhangine
xhe water. where II can enjoy the
Wnrmth of the sun and bs ahle IN re.
treat to Its native element at the frs,
Hign of danger. While on land alliga.
tors are very clumsy. in the water
rfey are exceedingly active. and be-
Ing strong swimmers are able to catcf
the larger Ash with but little trouble
1For animals like the muskrat and OF
Ter swimming across lagoons they ar,
always on the watch.
ON seizirg it's prey the alligato
sanks with II 10 the bottom and ther
remains until e,l struggling ha
s>nssd II Is then able, with les
trouble. To tear II into pieces. Will
thus submerged a peculiar collar a
the base of the tongue prevents tn
water from passing into It's lungs
While the alligator Is said to max
very enective use OF It's tail In war
t'are. the widely disseminated stor
that II uses its tail to- sweep animal
sd the banks into Its jaws appears I
have 5uf slight foundation.