SNAKE-CATCHING INDUSTRY UNSETTLED

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 91, 17 April 1917, Page 2

SNAKE-CATCHING INDUSTRY UNSETTLED

CmoK oub. own correbpokdbst.)

■■.; SYDNEY, lltk April.. One of the many Australian industries that have been unsettled by the war is. that, of catching snakes for export. An old Jnin named Brazier and Ms two sons, for years earned "& comfortable livelihood by, 1 collecting ; and despatching the reptiles to Germany. They found .that they could get good prices from the Germans,, and so quite a-, trade gradually developed. - l. , 'Shipment was not easy. Shipping people,; and particularly the average Anglo-Saxon sailor, had quite a prejudice against snakes, and they were labelled "dangerous' cargo.'.' But; the Braziers overcame this {difficulty cooperating with r the 'German sailors. The latter, being properljr i-ewarded, would personally take charge of, the snakes, and see that they Teached their destination.. ■, „ ! . ','■ '■• -'.i'V;.'- -■--.", "rr .: -i ■ ''• ,-'

The market was in the zoological gardens of the German cities, which willingly paid from 30s to £5 for black snakes, and 10s each for blue-mouthed lizaTds—-which were ,often sent away along with the snakes. The various chemical.laboratories in Germany, also, were always ready to buy snakes, the poißon of which they extracted and used in tho manufacture of permanganate of .potash, an antidoto for snake-bite. Tho snakes, at first, were sent away in cages, very finely, netted, but it was afterwards found that a perforated cask suited just as well,— and it had the additional advantage that it did not so readily attract notice, and cause objections to be raised. The feeding of the snakes en route is easy; very little suffices to keep them alive. If they are sent in the autumn, when they are generally very fat, they require nothing.

The Braziers, wearing heavy 'leggings, go out into the swamps after snakes— generally at night, with lanterns. They carry a 4-feet stick, shaped ljke a T, nd another stick sh/urply pronged. The snake, when found,' is held: with the T, and then caught at the back of the head witß. a prong. Thus, with care, he may be seized with the hand. The trade-is languishing just now, however; the only demand for snakes comes from showmen, and people with a queer taste in pets.

• Brazier, senior, is known Among scientists for his wide knowledge of Australian natural history. He lias been attached to many " scientific snakecatchirig expeditions in, Australia and ■the South Sea Islands.