The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-06-22
4 szlWc9 Of G6zo85 ~

" rENTY years ago visitor 10
that part OF the south below
North Carolina could see ALI
gators in almost every stream
and bayou. but now one may
frequently spend months trav-
cling through this region and not see
a single alligator except those in cap
tivity. The killing OF the creatures for
sport or for their hides has been the
main cause Of their great decrease in
numbers. IN addition thousands OF
the young have been killed or shipped
away. while enormous numbers of the
eggs have been gathered and sod as
curios.
It was not until about 1855 that the
6emand for alligator leather became
Of Importance. The market was NOT
long continued. In 1869 fashion again
called for the leather for manufacture
ing into fancy slippers, travelling bags.
belts, card cases. music rolls. etc. The
demand has continued TO the present.
and many thousands of the animals
have been killed. while preparation Of
the skins has given employment to
hundreds Q; people.
The output OF the tauneries of this
country appioximates 275.0O0 skins an.
nually. worth about S425,O0O. part OF
which come from Mexico and Central
America. 1t is estimated tina, about
100000 alligators were killed in
Florida alone between 1880 and 1909.
nearly 10000 being killed in 1905
The earliest settlers in the southern
states found alhgators. or. as they
were then called. crocodiles. exceed
ingly abundant in almost all streams.
especially in Florida and Louisiana.
Many marvellous tales are found in the
early chronicles Of the ravases d.
these monsters. They were said to
eat dogs and pigs ard 10 consider the
negro an especially Succulent udbit.
Awhile II was considered dangerous 10
so into streams where they were
known to exist. When such stream
had to be crossed hours we're sPen.
sometimes in beating it TO brighten Oh
the ailigators.
The researches OF scientists have
shown that there is very slight fouu
dadon for such stories, and it is prob
able that the greater number oil the
pigs lost by the planters could have
been traced TO other enemies. pardcu.
larly the two-looted kind.
The greater part OF the supply OF al.
lisator leather now comes from F'lorida.
and owing TO excessive hunting. the
industry is profitable only in the cen.
trail part OF the peninsula, in what IS
called the Lake okeechobee region and
in the Everglades. Here the p1ncipa!
hunters are Seminole Indians, who
have their homes on hummocks Tar
back in the Everglades and come 10
the settlements only when in need OF
articles which they cannot produce
themselves.
m April or May the mother alligator
seeks sheltered spot on bank anc
there builds 4 small mound with a
hole in the middle. The foundation al
,,ghis mound IS OF mud and grass. anu
On these she lays some eggs. She
then covers the eggs with another
stratum OF grass aad mud. upon which
she deposits some more eggs. Thus
she proceeds until she has laid from:
TWENTY-FIVE 10 sixty eggs. The egg
are Matched out by the sun.
As soon as they have Clipped the
shell, the baby aIligators are led TO the
water BY the mother. who provides
them wiki TODD. which she disgorges
Papa Alligator has to be carefully
watched at this time. for he highly
esteems a dinner OF young saurianS,
and is not particular whether they are
his own or his neighbors children.
When BY strategy or downright fight,
ing the mother has got her family
safely into their natural element. it is
not long before the young scatter
each to begin life on his own hook.
When fully grown, the alligator IS
about sixteen feet in length. In the
adult stage it IS greenish black above
having lost the yellowish color bands
that belong to its earlier years. Hunt
ers say that alugators grow very
slowly, attaining the first year a
length they are said 10 be from ten to
fifteen years old. while those twelve
feet long are supposed 10 be seventy.
five or more. Their normal life is es
dmated az :som one hundred TO one
hundred and f;ty years
Alligator bunting originally began
as sport. Then some one tanned the
skin and found that 1t could be put to
commercial use. Carried on as ii
must be. at night, the hunt is pictur
esQue.
In many places the hunters fasteD
bicycle lamps 10 their caps. and when
the animal is attracted by the light
pick 1t of by hitting ii in the eye with
a rife ball. Torches are often used.
Sometimes the hunter lures tha aIIfgo,