68 



HUNTING AND FISHING IN FLORIDA. 



to the end of the pole, and a rope fastened to the hook in case the 

 pole should break. The alligator may then be hooked, pulled out 

 of the hole, and shot ; but it frequently requires two or three men to 

 accomplish this if it be a large one. While being drawn to the 

 entrance of the hole he roars and bellows in a lively manner. I 

 have taken several alligators in this manner which measured over 

 eleven feet in length. 



When alligators fight with each other they attempt to seize the 

 upper jaw. I once saw two large alligators fighting in a very shal- 

 low pond ; each made several 

 ineffectual attempts to obtain 

 the jaw hold without success. 

 At last the larger one suc- 

 ceeded in seizing his oppo- 

 nent by the upper jaw and 

 immediately rolled over and 

 over, breaking his opponent's 

 jaw close to the head, killing 

 him instantly. This is, I am 

 told, the usual method em- 

 ployed by alligators when 

 fighting with one another. 



In localities where alliga- 

 tors are much hunted they 

 become very wary and shy, 

 and lay with their heads to- 

 ward the water, sleeping 

 with " one eye open," and at 

 the slightest sound they do 

 the " vanishing lady " to per- 

 fection. A hunter paddles 

 cautiously up some creek where he knows a large alligator some- 

 times repairs for an afternoon siesta — one careless motion so that the 

 paddle just touches the side of the boat and a loud splash in the dis- 

 tance tells him his chance to kill that alligator has gone for that day. 



ALLIGATOR. 



