336 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



anxiously about, probably wondering how many of her family will 

 succeed in running the very uncertain gantlet of life. 



For, eaten while in the egg stage by birds and animals, and swal- 

 lowed by open-mouthed, expectant fishes, and by other alligators — 

 often led, if the truth must be told, by the interesting father himself 

 — as soon as they reach the water, the early days of an alligator are 

 full of trouble. That enough escape to prevent extinction, however, 

 goes almost without saying. 



Alligators are hunted for their teeth, which find a ready market 

 when made up into pretty ornaments; and of late years extensively 

 for their hides, which make a very handsome leather. For this pur- 

 pose the older specimens are not valuable, their hides being too 

 gnarled, knotty, and moss-grown to tan well. After ten or fifteen 

 years the hide coarsens. It is always the skin from the under side of 

 the body and head which is used, that from the back being so heavily 

 armored with tough, horny plates and shields as to be practically use- 

 less. The flesh for food finds but few admirers. Like the eggs, it is 

 permeated by a strong, musky flavor, too rank to find appreciation 

 from a refined palate; but in some places the steaks from the reptile 

 are eaten by the negroes and pronounced good. 



To successfully hunt the alligator requires experience, for quick 

 work is necessary, the brute disappearing at the least suspicion of 

 danger. Hunting by " jack " is the usual method pursued, for the 

 light seems to charm the creature, so that he may be more easily 

 detained until a properly directed bullet speedily puts an end to his 

 existence. 



A professional alligator hunter, or a " 'gator man," as he is called, 

 leads a life full of adventure, but his business is upon the wane, since 

 the fad for alligator leather is being pushed aside to make way for 

 something later and more novel. Nevertheless, a description of his 

 outfit may not be uninteresting. 



A most important adjunct to this outfit is the man who usually 

 accompanies the 'gator man upon his expeditions. He might properly 

 be called the silent partner, for his duty is to instantly and silently 

 obey the different hand signals, meaning " To the right," " To the 

 left," "Stop," "Back," "Hurry," "Forward," "Spurt," "Slow," 

 given by the hunter, while standing erect in the bow of the boat, 

 when out with the " jack." Indeed, upon his alertness depends much 

 of the success or failure of the night's work. 



The other tools used by the 'gator man are a light, strong boat, 

 a pair of light oars and a broad-bladed paddle with a four-foot handle, 

 neatly coiled rope, a jack lamp furnished with a powerful reflector, 

 an axe, a long, keen-bladed hunting knife, two guns (twelve-bore 

 breech-loaders, for a heavy charge at one delivery is absolutely neces- 



