SNAKE FARMING

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1929, Page 8

SNAKE FARMING

.Marvellous results have been obtained in the use of venom, collected from poisonous snakes, ior immunising horses, and thus obtaining an antiverine or serum to treat the bites of tropical serpents. In Honduras, tlio areadia of mammals, brilliant, flashing birds and reptiles o'f all sorts, including the deadliest, there is an institution known as the Antivcnin Institute of America, and is a branch of a scientific organisation in the United States. The building includes a depressed arena, containing a number ol shelter caves.’ It is sheltered from the tropic sun by an extensive thatched root ol design similar to the native houses. This long thatched structure looks harmless enough from the outside, hut it contains a swarming population of deadly serpents, dropped ins as they were captured on the banana plantations. The sides of the arena are too high for them to ascend, but they glare and hiss at observers who peer over the surrounding rails. It is the stern duty of the director’s assistant to descend into the pit every few days by means of a ladder (which is immediate! removed), and, provided with a simple apparatus, which consists of a long stick with a small noose at the end, to capture each serpent, then peimit the maddened reptile to slash its fangs through a piece of parch mem tied over a piece of glass, yielding copious jets of venom. The assistant is unable to catch many snakes himself. as the care of his dangerous subjects takes much of his time, and snakes are not commonly seen in the tropics. They are everywhere, yet' have general shelter in the tangle of luxuriant growth, from which they usually prowl at night. The tropical undergrowth is so thick that it is Impossible to work in even a lew feet without cutting one’s way with a machete. Hountios are oflered ior the snakes which are brought in by the natives. The price paid for large specimens o'T poisonous serpents, is about ten shillings each. At this price it would seem that they would come to the station in large numbers, but such Is not the case. In the excitement of capture, many of the snakes are killed.