The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-25
HARD, LONELY LIFE
OF ALLIGATOR HUNTERS
How the Reptiles are Being Destroyed in the
'Glades of Florida.-Hard Work and
Small Pay for the Hunters.

In the cloudless sky f1oated 1ock
of buzzards, the scavengers OF the
South. In great circles, ever narrow
ing, the birds sailed, steadily drop
ping toward the earth as they moved
on apparently motionless wings.
Something dead over there said
the guide, as he noted the birds.
Maybe it is land seeker, who has
met with misfortune while trying to
cross the Everglades, suggested one
of the little party of canoeists max
ing a trip across the Peninsula of
Florida by way of the canal just COM
pleted which conects Fort Meyers on
the Gulf of Mexico and Fort Lauder
dale, on the Atlantic ocean.
"Huh," commented the guide
with smile, ''no one ever lost here
any more; too much civilization for
that. Birds following an alligator
hunter and he has killed some ga
tors-that's all. Pretty soon no ga
tors left for the hunters; all cleared
out now except the small ones.'
Time was when the trade of alli-
gator hunter in the Everglades OF
Florida paid well. Many men have
made small fortunes through the
killing of the saurians and the sale
of their hides, but that time has gone,
as the guide said, and noF there are
only few hunters who make more
than a small sum annually.
At Fort Myers stands tannery
where the hides of the gators are
transformed into leather to be made
into shoes, satchels, handbags, suit
cases, belts, pocketbooks, purses and
other articles. Once this tannery was
a busy place with many employees,
but now much Of its former glory
has departed and the owners are en-
gagged in other business most of the
time. Hunters. of the alligator in
the 'Glades are divided into two
classes -sportsmen who kill for the
fun of it and professionals who hunt
efor the money there is in it.
want to go to alligator camp?"
asked the guide, pointing to the cir
cling buzzards. Seminole Charlie
near here just off canal. He great
hunter-kill many gators"
On pine hammock more than a
mile back from the canal was found
the camp of the Indian, who was ac-
companied by his wife and his two
sons. A tent sheltered the bedding
of the party and in tin boxes was
the food, which consisted of -four,
bacon, coffee and condensed milk.
Near by were the carcasses of sew
eral alligators, around which Topped,
struggled and fought score or more
of the turkey buzzards.
Half covered with salt and stacked
in a heap lay the hides of the rep
ties. The skins were being cured,
and at the conclusion of the hunt
they were to be taken, with others
to be obtained later, to the tannery
in Fort Myers, and exchanged for
the money of the white man, which
is the one item of civilization that
the Seminole Indian does not affect
to despise.
The heap of skins representing the
privations and the toll of many weeks
was worth possibly $50 or $50, at the
present price of hides. No skin less
than three feet long is wanted or
accepted at the tannery. For skin
of this length 81 is paid, and the
price advances at the rate of 25 cents
for each additional foot. A hide for
which the hunter receives more
than 50 is a rarity and attracts at
tention, even in the alligator coun-
try.
Owing to the fact that the water in
the Everglades is only a. few inches
deep in most places where turks the
gator, it is necessary that the
hunter be provided with boat of
shallow drift. Many of the white
hunters use small fiat bottom punts,
or scows, while the Indian sticks to
the dugout of his forefathers. This
dugout is constructed of a cypress
log, sharpened at both ends. The
center is burned out, after which the
craft is shaped with an axe, and, fol-
lowing a general trimming, is ready
for use.
Seminole Charlie may be, and
probably is, an alligator hunter of
ability and renown, but as con-
versationalist he is dismal failure
at least, he was on the occasion of the
visit, and even the offer of money
failed to draw him out of his shell.