The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-07-24
SHIPS EIGHTY THOUSAND
SNAKES EVERY YEAR.
w. A. ("Snake') King and His Wife Have De-
veloped a Big Industry in Poisonous
Reptiles in Texas.

Probably the largest "snake farm
in the world is operated at Browns
vile. Texas, by W. \. King Snake
King. as he calls himself. The title
is not inappropriate. He has 4 part
ner in the business in his wife. The
two have handled many thousands of
venemous reptiles.
Just now they are catching great
MANY, it being the breeding season.
1t is not unusual for rattler to
bring forth fifty to sixty in one litter.
Not long Ggo one brought forth 1873
in one litter. An infant snake is
worth twenty-five cents, and it rapid
ly grows in value up to IS to $40,
depending upon its weight. Snakes
are usually sold by the pound. King
feeds his snakes field mice anu rats
brought in by Mexican boys.
King says he has handled more
than 100000 snakes since he start
ed in the business, about twenty years
ago. He is now shipping annually
about 10000 snakes from his farm.
The chaparral wilderness of South
Texas and all of Northern Mexico is
the natural habitat for rattlers and
many other kinds of poisonous rep
tiles.
Mrs. King Also an Expert.
Mrs. King is an expert snake hunt
er. AS a girl she learned to handle
them with a minimum of danger.
She found that there was market
for them, and for several years be-
fore meeting King she made busi-
ness of hunting the reptiles in the
brush around Brownsville. She still
delights in snake hunting, and is
usually accompanied by a sister, who
is an assistant at the farm. The
hunting of rattlesnakes gives employ
ment to more than one thousand Mex
leans in the spring of the year.
Snakes from the King farm are
shipped all. over the world. They
are in demand by museums, side
. shows, geological gardens and for
other exhibition purposes. Many of
these snakes are also used for scien-
tifc purposes-for study and dis
secting.
The Kings do quite business in
selling snake poison. 1t is used larg-
ly by chemists for experimental pur-
poses and brings q good price. 1t is
said to be valuable for medical pur-
poses also There is also much de-
mand for rattlesnake oil, many be-
lieving that it is good for rheumatism
and some other ills.
King and his wife have been bit
ten many times by rattlesnakes.
The first time was bitten by
rattlesnake was in 1891 he says:
Il was sick at the stomach for some
time, but l cut the wound and let
the blood flow, using permanganate
of potash, with hypodermic injec-
ton of ammonia Sometimes it is
necessary to apply tourniQuet. AS
soon as the poison hits the flesh it
seeps off, so the safest way is to cut
little cross-about half an inch
at the place bitten. Let the blood
flow freely. If the solution is mix
ed properly and administered pro-
perly it is a sure cure, in my oDin-
ion.
Yes, have heard of eating snake
meat; old settlers have told me they
have had to eat it. The meat is
white and fine, tasting like veal.
IF a snake is hit by stick and
wounded it will try to poison itself.
Rattlesnakes coil in a fash, but they
do not have to be coiled in order to
bite. They have to coil in order to
jump and they are very lively when
they do move. If rattler is moving
it can swing around like a flash and
strike, but if it has a chance to get
away it will not trouble you. From
coil they can throw themselves two
thirds the length of their body, but
by repeated jumps they can tire
themselves out.
Small Snakes Deadliest.
The young snakes have poison
fangs almost as soon as they are born,
ready to do the work. The smaller
the rattlesnake the deadier it is.
The reason the copperhead is so
poisonous is because it is so small.
The poison remains in small wound,
which quickly heals over as there is
no blood flowing. With large snake
the fangs are so big and the snake so
heavy that if it strikes you it tears