ALLIGATOR FARMING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 122, 19 November 1926, Page 15

ALLIGATOR FARMING

S UP-TO-DATE METHODS ! ' ■ ■ ■' GROWING DEMAND FOR THE CREATURE. Los Angeles, in Southern California, can boast of an up-to-date alligator farm. It •'was' started some' few years ago by Mr. H. J. Campbell, an Englishman who has also a Bimilar establishment at Hot Springs in Arkansas. Indeed, he may be said to have brought the rearing of these saurians to a science, writes H. J. Shepstone in "The Graphic." He has taught them to do all kinds of tricks for the amusement of visitors, and also claims to be able to hypnotise them. ' Once found in large numbers in th« Southern States of America, the alligator is now getting very scarce, Ihe magnitude of the industrial demand for tlifl creature may be realised from the fact that in a single decade, from 1900 to 1910. according to the United States Fish Commission, no fewer than three million alligators we're killed in the State of Florida alone. It is also estimated that a like number was slaughtered in Louisiana. Texas,' and "Mississippi. The scarcity of the saurian, and the high price for its hide, "led Mr. Campbell to "found his farms —surely ' s,ome of the strangest. »n the wprid! , . At the establishment at Los Angeles may be seen nearly five bunchy gljigators w all sizes, ranging frpm Rabies newly hatcjied and' scarcely larger than a lizard, to huge monsters, twelve feet or _flre- m length. 'In the warm and congenial climate of Southern California, the natural and climate g(m4jtiqns are highly favourable to the successful raising of the saurians. The demand exceeds the supply and the content rise ifl the prices of the hides and teeth, as well aa of the animals fpr roepagerjes i»nd advertising purposes, has rendered the enterprise a highly profitable undertaking, in the near future promises to become an extensive'industry. The farm'is beautifully laid out on the banks of a small mountain streanj, \yhich in its course has formed a number of little lakes and ponds, cotistitutina ideal breeding snd,ssock gfognjs for the purpose.. . \ '.♦.'; . HUNTING NEW STOCKThe large ■ specimens at the farm have^ been "caught in the swamps of Louisiana and Florida by experienced and skilful hunters, who are constantly after new specimens; as the output is so extensive lit is necessary to replenish by periodical hunts for new stock, which, upon their arrival at the farm, are deposited in their appointed enclosures.; This is more im-

portant than one might think, for, if this classification were, not carried out, owing to the cannibalistic tendencies of the saurian, the stock wriuld be quickly depleted. Therefore the youngsters are accommodated ,in one lake, those a little older in another, and so on, according to size and age, the more mature specimens being herded together. In pne lake may be seen a noble saurian, Big Mug, the veteran of the farm, and monarch of all he surveys in his solitary confinement—a huge monster said to be five hundred years old. Two other specimens on the farm aro said to be over two hundred years, old, the alligator being known to live to a very great age. In its natural haunts the animal hibernates during the winter, burrowing into the mud, and staying there until the arrival of the more genial and cheery weather of spring. To counteract this the alligators here are placed in winter quarters, a large and spacious building. The water and building are kept at a certain temperature, thus keeping animals active and in no way dormant, so that they can be viewed by thousands of tourists during the entire winter; but, strange to say, during the winter months they partake of no food whatever. NESTING TIME. . During the month of June the alligators become very dangerous. Then they bellow like enraged bulls, calling their mates, and converting the farm into a veritable p^idemonium, the males becoming exceedingly vicious. They will fight like demons, and great care has to be exercised to prevent them seriously injuring one another. Occasionally you will see one or more of the males with muzzles on. In the following month the females commence nesting. The female fashions^ her nest by scraping together with her hind feet a pile of rubbish, comprising rushes, sticks, reeds, and mud. On this heterogeneous collection' she deposits from thirty to sixty eggs, which are long and narrow, capsule shape. The mother then scratches a layer of rubbish over the eggs, completely concealing them, and stands on guard- until they are hatched by the heat of the sun. During this period she is exceedingly savage. On the farm the nests are robbed as soon as the female has completed laying. The eggs are taken to the incubators to_ be hatched; special incubators have been made to order for this work. The period of incubation is about sixty days. _ Feeding time at the farm is carried out at a specified time on Sunday afternoon, and the. population of Los Angeles hies to the ponds to witness the strange spectacle. The compounds being enclosed in wire nettings, and the,creatures having a large area on the banks on ' which to bask in the sunshine,- a good view of the feast is otained. The menu consist; for tho most part of, waste meat, which is dispatched from the (treat,packing yards, accompanied by such dainties as. chickens, ducks, and pigeons, which are killed before serving. Every afternoon exhibitions are given

showing how the alligators are caught aud handled, and the most unusual sight of trained alligators "shooting the chutes" may be witnessed. They walk up an inclined pathway to the top of the structure, which is ribbed so as to enable them to gain a foothold. At command, the alligators put their feet together and slide from thirty feet into the water—an unusual amusement for the visitor. Mr. Campbell has also trained one of the alligators to draw a carriage about the farm,' though it is seldom he can induce a visitor to accept a ride. Others are led round the farm like pet dogs at the end of a rope. The strangest spectacle of all is to watch Mr. Campbell hypnotise one of these saurians. Strolling up to»a ten-foot alligator, he gazes at it very hard for a few minutes, then passes his arms about it, when it quietly turns over on its back and lies motionless until the man moves away.

Pioneer Lodge, No. 11, 1.0. G.T., held Its weekly meeting on Monday, C.T., Sister Devereux presiding over a good attendance. Arrangements were made for the quarterly meeting of District Lodge. A motion of sympathy with L.D. Bro. Trerelyan In the loss of Ills brother was carried by. silent vote. One candidate was proposed and initiated. G.V.T. Sister Hirst, installed P.C.T. Sister Harding, Treas. Sister Culumn, Sent. Bro. Williams. Greetings were received from "Hope of Petone" and Dunedin Lodges. Sister Mrs. Kruse donated a curtain to the lodge, and was thanked. ' .