Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1910-06-02
SNAKES CATCH RATS
Merchants Of Detroit Place Or
ders for 800 of "BuII" Variety.
Unlike Any other Member Of Rep
tile Family He Inspires Feeling OF
Affectlon-To Prove Bene-
fetal In Moral Way.

Detroit, Mich.-A local naturalist
has placed an order with Texas firm
for 800 bull snakes. which are to be
used to exterminate the rats of De-
trot.
When the snakes arrive they are
to be given out free to all applicants,
with the understanding that the first
to come will be the first served.
The snake is native Of the en-
tire Pacific coast country as well as
the Lone Star state, but the south
ern specimen is said to be the best
ratter, hence the placing of the order
there.
"He will make good. never fear"
says the man who has boosted the
qualifications of the bull snake. 1t
does not take a matador to put the
bull snake through his little stunt.
He performs of his own volition and
with extreme avidity. All you have
to do is to welcome him into your
home with average politeness. He
will do the rest. Unless some Of the
rats are sick-a-bed and indisposed to
roam in quest of food he will have
them all in a week. Then he can be
loaned to your neighbor.
and right there is where the diff
Guilty of the whole plan comes in. You
won't wish to loan him. The bull
snake Is unlike any other member of
the snake family in that he inspires
a feeling of affection and companion
ship between himself and the people
he meets, in contradistinction to the
loathing and repugnance with which
other snakes are regarded.
"Out in the west almost every
ranch has it's pet bull snake. You can
spur the cayuses. cuff the cat and kick
the dog, but don't step on "BilP or
you'll get the dislike of the rancher,
for the big serpent is his one best
pet. The prime purpose of having
Bill present is to keep away the rat
tiers which he will kill on sight and
which will run their fastest to get
out of his way, but he soon gets to be
one of the family and is treated as
such. 1t is no unusual occurrence to
see an eight foot bull snake coiled
in a chair at a rancher's table, with
his neck stretched over the edge and
his head resting on a plate. while his
master feeds him tit-bits of meats and
pastry. He is sure to be popular In
Detroit"
Not only is the advent Of Bill sup
posed to mark the determination or
exodus of the rat, but he is to prove
beneficial in a moral way. When you
see bibulous person with disheveled
hair quivering in an agony OF fear
and horror, don't tell him that 1t is
a real snake he sees on the walk. Let
him think that he has the "Jimmies."
Perhaps 1t will cure him of the habit
Several of the big Detroit stores
have put in a requisition for a dozen
of the bull snakes. The rats are
cause of great monetary loss to local
merchants, not only to the grocery
and meat man, but to dry goods men
as well. Some of the more fastidious
rodents will pass up the best new
vegetables and even cheese to feed
on silk and satins. His appetite is
often illogical.
c. Hart Merriam, chief of the Biolog-
ical survey, of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, at Washing
ton, and other eminent scientists in
the service are enthusiastic over the
try out of the bull snake as a rat
catcher in Detroit. Doctor Merriam
has written that he is quite familiar
with the talent and ability Of The ser.
pent and that he is satisfied that the
experiment will not be a disappoint-
ment. MY only suggestion is a lit
tie advice to the ladies to guard their
coiffures," he says. with Bill, rat
is q rat ard hairnins won't stop him"