The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-06-22

the peculiar grunt which the young
ahigators make, for there is no sort OF
food they love better than newly,
patched gator. The hunter takes
long. slender pole and lets one end OF
it down very quietly into the water.
The other end he places between his
teeth and initiates the grunt OF the
baby gators The old fellows easily
hear the call and come up to feast
on the babies they think are there.
In catching them alive. hunters fire.
quently lasso them while asleep on the
bank or on log. When asleep in
their holes in the mud they are occa
sionally drawn out by means OF an
iron hook. These holes are easily
found. Sometimes the grass is set
afre and the animals lassoed as they
seek the water.
AIligators three feet and more in
length are generally killed at once and
the hide removed. All OF the hide ex-
cept the ridge OF the back. which is
very bony. is used. The hide is salted,
and is then in condition for sale to
the buyers, who are usually storekeep-
ers, who furnish provisions and am.
munition in exchange.
The hides range in value to the
hunter from 20 cents for three-ioot
hide 10 SIPS for a hide seven feet or
more or in length. The five and six.
foot hides are the most desirable. as
the larger hides have hard piece OF
bone in the square checks on the hide,
and it is impossible TO sew through
this. Nearly all OF the tanning is
done at Newark. y. J.
Young aligators are often brought
in. and these are worth about eight
cents apiece. The eggs are also gath
cred, and sell Tor 23t cents each. They
are mainly sold to euro dealers, who
either hatch them out or bow them
and sell the shells. Most OF the small
al!igators are stuffed and sold as
cuIioS 10 tourists. VINO pay from 50
cents 10 two dollars apiece for them.
Many OF them used 10 be shipped
north alive by tourists as presents.
Owing TO ignorance as 10 how the ami
MAJ should be cared Tor. many OF these
soon died.
Il properly cared for. the young ALI.
gator viii thrive even in unnatural
circumstances. Its main requirement
is sufficient heat Its diet should con.
sist OF bits 0. fresh meat. insects ana
worms. They often show great fond
ness Tor the ordinary earthwo.ms. and
vii! frequently refuse all iood but
these. Inc larger specimens in cap,
uyity are fed about three times a
week on fresh meat or small 1--we ami.
mails. and they require little attention
other than this
Anigators' teeth, which are secured
by buryiag the head until they have
rotted OUT, are OF fine ivory and val
ued tor carving INTO ornaments. They
are worth 70 the hunter. about Two dol.
lars pound-irom fifty 10 seyeuty.Aye
teeth. The dealers win not buy very
many Of them. as there is a limited
demand. At one time. the paws were
saved and mounted as curios, but it is
impossible to GO anything with them
now.
Both flesh and eggs are eaten by a
few persons: but 1t requires very
hardy stomach 10 stand the disagree.
able. musky odor. There is nothing
better, hunters declare. than the tip
OF the TAIL OF an alligator which haa
reached, say, the pu!let period 1t is
creamy IN color. tasting little Ike
frogs legs. but with more pro
nounced gamy favor. juicy-ayogetles
tempdpg.
Alligator tails are best at the time
OF the rice bird season. The big ALI.
gators noat in the water with only
their eyes showing. When an alliga.
tor gets near q flock OF these lat, juicy
little birds, II dives TO the bottom.
It's long wide snout scoops up some
OF the loan, and it floats 10 the cur.
face again with just the rich soil show
ing.
The birds think it is an island. They
alight on it. When the whole family is
there, the big beast turns suddenly.
Just as The birds scramble OF the al
ligator opens its mouth once. They
are gone.
The birds are neat little feeders,
and the alligator is an epicure at this
time Of the year. The rice-bird diet
makes the tip Of its tail tender and
sweet.
1t viii probably be news to many
that Florida has a representative OF
the crocodile family. This animal was
first supposed 10 be confined to the
West Indies and South America. but II
has been occasionally captured on the
peninsula OF Florida. 1t is easily dis
tinguished from the alligator by Its
narrow snout For many years sci
entists were skeptical OF reports from
Florida Of the appearance OF this ami
nal in that state. but the capture OF
! several fine specimens in recent years
has settled all doubt