116 THE ALLIGATOR'S LIFE HISTORY 



Average length of eggs 2.61 inches. 



width of eggs 1.60 inch. 



weight of eggs 2 l /% ounces. 



length of ten young 8.75 inches, 

 weight of ten young 1.75 ounces. 

 Length of mother 7 ft., 3 inches. 

 Weight of mother 116^ pounds. 



NEST No. 3 : 



Eggs laid June 2, 1933. 



Eggs hatched August 7. 



Incubation period 66 days. 



Number of eggs, 41. 



Average length of eggs 2.63 inches. 



width of eggs 1.61 inch. 



weight of eggs 2 l / ounces. 



length of young 9.19 inches. 



weight of young 1 15/16 ounce. 

 Length of mother 7 ft., 8 inches. 

 Weight of mother 129^ pounds. 



That the alligator has already been exterminated over 

 a large portion of its former habitat is a fact, and one that 

 civilization should not be proud of. There is, and will be 

 for many years to come, a few spots in our swamps and 

 marshes difficult of access to man, in which a few alligators 

 will survive long enough to reach the reproducing age, so 

 the actual total extermination of these harmless and pic- 

 turesque reptiles is not an immediate danger; but it is ex- 

 tremely doubtful if they ever again will be an attractive 

 feature of our waterways, as they were during the latter 

 part of the last century. 



In order to give alligators an opportunity to develop 

 naturally and without fear of being molested, I have set 

 aside about five thousand acres of lowland, suited to their 

 needs, lying east and north of Avery Island in which no 

 alligators are to be killed. This land is so protected by 

 barriers that it is not easy of access; yet, during the past 



