ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES. 69 



The skin hunters kill alligators at night, using a light with which 

 they are able to " shine" their eyes. The alligator does not fear a 

 light, and as the boat approaches within a few feet of the animal it 

 is shot without difficulty. Thousands are killed annually in this 

 manner, and their skins are shipped North or sold to intermediate 

 dealers in Jacksonville and vicinity at the rate of ten cents per run- 

 ning foot. The much more sportsman-like way of hunting the 

 alligator is by " still-hunting " them in the daytime, paddling silently 

 up the creeks and rivers, where at times they may be found asleep 

 or sunning themselves on the banks. In places where they have 

 been much hunted this is by no means easy to do. Where the alli- 

 gators have not been disturbed they are tame and lazy, and I have 

 passed within a few feet of several that gazed stupidly at me without 

 attempting to leave the bank. A good rifle is the proper weapon 

 with which to hunt alligators. I prefer a 45 Winchester, either 

 45-70 or 45-90, which has power enough to kill the animal and not 

 merely wound it and allow it to escape and die. A shot striking the 

 eye or any portion of the head so as to penetrate the brain is almost 

 instantly fatal. It is rare that a shot in the body will stop an alli- 

 gator where he lies, and it is not advisable to shoot at the body if 

 the head is exposed. The old idea that a rifle-ball would glance 

 from the skin of an alligator does not apply to modern weapons. 

 If a rifle-ball strikes fairly it will penetrate the skin without diffi- 

 culty and will sometimes pass completely through the body. 



Before closing my remarks on large alligators I will refer to an 

 entry which I once saw in the register of the Brock House. 



In the old days, when transportation was more difficult than it is at 

 present, the Brock House was about the end of civilization and was 

 a twenty-four hours' trip by boat from Jacksonville. It was at that 

 time a great resort for sportsmen, who were attracted there by the 

 Ashing and shooting to be had in the vicinity. The old register, 

 which extended back a great many years, contained some queer 

 records, some of them of doubtful veracity. Among others, some 

 one has written : " March 19, 1872, killed a large alligator, the 

 largest seen here this year ; the stomach contained a boot, a piece 



