GOOD WORDS FOR THE 'GATOR.
Twenty years ago a visitor to that part of the South below NorthCarolina could see alligators in almost every stream and bayou, but nowone may frequently spend months traveling through this region and notsee a single alligator except those in captivity. The killing of thecreatures for sport or for their hides has been the main cause of theirgreat decrease in numbers. In addition thousands of the young have beenkilled or shipped away, while enormous numbers of the eggs have beengathered and sold as curios.
It was not until about 1855 that the demand for alligator leatherbecame of importance. The market was not long continued. In 1869fashion again called for the leather for manufacturing into fancyslippers, traveling bags, belts, card cases, music rolls, etc. Thedemand has continued to the present and many thousands of the animalshave been killed, while the preparation of the skins has givenemployment to hundreds of people.
The output of the tanneries of this country approximates 275,000 skinsannually, worth about $425,000, part of which come from Mexico andCentral America. It is estimated that about 3,800,000 alligators werekilled in Florida alone between 1880 and 1909, nearly 20,000 beingkilled in 1908.
The earliest settlers in the Southern States found alligators, or, asthey were then called, crocodiles, exceedingly abundant in almost allstreams, especially in Florida and Louisiana. Many marvelous tales arefound in the early chronicles of the ravages of these monsters. Theywere said to eat dogs and pigs, and to consider the negro an especiallysucculent tidbit, while it was considered dangerous to go into streamswhere they were known to exist. When such a stream had to be crossedhours were spent sometimes in beating it to frighten off the alligators.
The researches of scientists have shown that there is very slightfoundation for such stories, and it is probable that the greater numberof pigs lost by the planters could have been traced to other enemies,particularly the two-footed kind, while runaway slaves would naturallyencourage the belief that alligators had dined off them.
The greater part of the supply of alligator leather now comes fromFlorida, and owing to excessive hunting the industry is profitableonly in the central part of the peninsula, in what is called the LakeOkeechobee region and in the Everglades. Here the principal huntersare Seminole Indians, who have their homes on hummocks far back in theEverglades and come to the settlements only when in need of articleswhich they cannot produce themselves.
The alligator is most active at night, and his days are usually spentlying on some low bank or log overhanging the water, where it can enjoythe warmth of the sun and be able to retreat to its native element atthe first sign of danger. While on land alligators are very clumsy, inthe water they are exceedingly active, and, being strong swimmers, areable to catch the larger fish with but slight trouble. For animals likethe muskrat and otter swimming across lagoons they are always on thewatch.
On seizing its prey the alligator sinks with it to the bottom and thereremains until all struggling has ceased; it is then able with lesseffort to tear it into pieces. While thus submerged a peculiar collarat the base of the tongue prevents the water from passing into itslungs.
While the alligator is said to make very effective use of its tailin warfare, the widely disseminated story that it uses its tail tosweep animals off the banks into its jaws appears to have but slightfoundation in fact.
In April or May the mother alligator seeks a sheltered spot on abank and there builds a small mound with a hole in the middle. Thefoundation of this mound is of mud and grass, and on these she layssome eggs. She then covers the eggs with another stratum of grass andmud, upon which she deposits some more eggs. Thus she proceeds untilshe has laid from twenty-five to sixty eggs. The eggs are hatched outby the sun.
As soon as they have chipped the shell the baby alligators are ledto the water by the mother, who provides them with food, which shedisgorges. Papa Alligator has to be carefully watched at this time, forhe highly esteems a dinner of young saurians, and is not particularwhether they are his own or his neighbor's children. When by strategyor downright fighting the mother has got her family safely into theirnatural element it is not long before the young scatter, each to beginlife on his own hook. At this period they form a favorite food forturtles and the larger fishes.
When fully grown the alligator is about sixteen feet in length. In theadult stage it is greenish-black above, having lost the yellowish colorbands that belong to its earlier years. Hunters say that alligatorsgrow very slowly, attaining the first year a length of about one foot.When two feet in length they are said to be from ten to fifteen yearsold, while those twelve feet long are supposed to be seventy-five ormore. Their normal life is estimated at from one hundred to one hundredand fifty years.
Alligator hunting originally began as sport. Then some one tanned theskin and found that it could be put to commercial use. Carried on as itmust be, at night, the hunt is picturesque.
In many places the hunters fasten bicycle lamps on their caps, and whenthe animal is attracted by the light pick it off by hitting it in theeye with a rifle ball. Torches are often used. Sometimes the hunterlures the alligator to the surface of the water by "telephoning to the'gator," as it is called.
An alligator is always attracted by the peculiar grunt which the youngalligators make, for there is no sort of food they love better thannewly hatched 'gator. The hunter takes a long, slender pole and letsone end of it down very quietly into the water. The other end he placesbetween his teeth and imitates the grunt of the baby 'gators. The oldfellows easily hear the call and come up to feast on babies they thinkare there.
In catching them alive hunters frequently lasso them while asleep onthe bank or on a log. When asleep in their holes in the mud they areoccasionally drawn out by means of an iron hook. These holes are easilyfound. Sometimes the grass is set afire and the animals lassoed as theyseek the water.
After the alligator is caught the hunter in sport sometimes mounts it,using the reptile's fore feet and legs as reins. It is needless to saythat it is only by the exercise of considerable skill that the hunterkeeps his seat through the struggles of the reptile, and if care is notused the fun may develop into tragedy.
Alligators three feet and more in length are generally killed atonce and the hide removed. All of the hide except the ridge of theback, which is very bony, is used. The hide is salted, and is then incondition for sale to the buyers, who are usually storekeepers, whofurnish provisions and ammunition in exchange.
The hides range in value to the hunter from 20 cents for a three-foothide to $1.25 for a hide seven feet or more in length. The five andsix-foot hides are the most desirable, as the larger hides have a hardpiece of bone in the square checks on the hide, and it is impossible tosew through this. Nearly all of the tanning is done at Newark, N. J.
Young alligators are often brought in, and are worth about 8 centsapiece. The eggs are also gathered, and sell for 2-1/2 cents each.They are mainly sold to curio dealers, who either hatch them out orblow them and sell the shells. Most of the small alligators are stuffedand sold as curios to tourists, who pay from 50 cents to $2 apiece forthem.
Many of them used to be shipped North alive by tourists as presents.Owing to ignorance as to how the animal should be cared for many ofthese soon died.
If properly cared for, the young alligator will thrive even inunnatural circumstances. Its main requirement is sufficient heat.Its diet should consist of bits of fresh meat, insects and worms.They often show great fondness for the ordinary earthworms, and willfrequently refuse all food but these. The larger specimens in captivityare fed about three times a week on fresh meat or small live animals,and they require little attention other than this.
Alligators' teeth, which are secured by burying the head until theyhave rotted out, are of fine ivory and valued for carving intoornaments. They are worth to the hunter about $2 a pound--from fiftyto seventy-five teeth. The dealers will not buy very many of them, asthere is but a limited demand. At one time the paws were saved andmounte
d as curios, but it is impossible to do anything with them now.
Both flesh and eggs are eaten by a few persons, but it requires a veryhardy stomach to stand the disagreeable, musky odor. There is nothingbetter, hunters declare, than the tip of the tail of an alligator whichhas reached, say, the pullet period. It is creamy in color, tastinga little like frogs' legs, but with a more pronounced gamy flavor,juicy--altogether tempting. The dish is a great favorite with thecrackers of Florida.
Alligator tails are best at the time of the ricebird season. The bigalligators float in the water with only their eyes showing. When analligator gets near a flock of these fat, juicy little birds it divesto the bottom. Its long, wide snout scoops up some of the loam, and itfloats to the surface again with just the rich soil showing.
The birds think it is an island. They alight upon it. When the wholefamily is there the big beast turns suddenly. Just as the birdsscramble off the alligator opens its mouth once. They are gone.
The birds are neat little feeders, and the alligator is an epicure atthis time of the year. The ricebird diet makes the tip of its tailtender and sweet.
In St. Augustine is an alligator farm, one of two in the United States,the other being at the Hot Springs in Arkansas. Here the alligators arekept in confinement until large enough for market.
It will probably be news to many that Florida has a representative ofthe crocodile family. This animal was first supposed to be confinedto the West Indies and South America, but it has been occasionallycaptured on the peninsula of Florida. It is easily distinguishablefrom the alligator by its narrow snout. For many years scientists wereskeptical of reports from Florida of the appearance of this animal inthat State, but the capture of several fine specimens in recent yearshas settled all doubt.