CROCODILE HUNT.

Shannon News, 3 August 1923, Page 1

CROCODILE HUNT.

SPORT IN QUEENSLAND. A crocodile hunt in one of the rivers of North. Queensland is described in the “Sydney Sun” by Mr Reg. Kendall, in charge or one of the several natural history collecting parties at present operating in Queensland. ‘‘While camped on Alligator Creek, near Macltay,” lie writes, “I heard reports about an exceedingly large croco - dile that was continually carrying off stock. Poison baits and noose traps were never approached by him, while hunters had plumped lead into his carcase in vain. I had destroyed seven of these brutes on the Daintree River in the one day with a .44 rifle # . As it showed signs of being a very interesting hunt’. I agreed to organise a crocodile drive that would last a week. We built a raft of bamboo that just held me and one of my men. Placing on this a quantity of bushes, I pushed off into mid-stream. My two men, accompanied by two of the settler’s little boys, took my horse and followed the river about half a mile from the water where they would not be heard by any croctadiles on the bank. ‘‘For half an hour I floated along, completely at the will of the ebbing tide, searching the hanks on either side for a chance shot. I passed one or two small crocodiles, but for fear of disturbing the big fellow 1 refrained from firing a shot, much as I would have liked to do so. So, cleverly were t’he bushes arranged on the raft that those I passed retained their places and took no notice as I passed within' 50 yards of them.

‘‘l was glad that I had not tired, for not 500 yards further on I caught sight of the big fellow lying on a sandspit'. I waited for a sight of its head, but saw, much to my sorrow, that the raft was being carried away from my quarry.' To move would be fatal to any chance of success, so 1 decided to chance a shot as soon as I got abreast of the sand-spit. Cautiously 1 raised myself on my elbows and waited. As soon as the raft steadied in calmer water I raised by rifle, and with a quick aim that was almost' a snapshot, I fired. I never before worked the lever and brought up a fresh cartridge so, quickly as I did this time. But it was needless to haste, for th e crocodile, with a few lashes of its tail, lay still. Both bullets had entered under the forearm, and, tearing through the brain, lodged in the cranium. The crocodile rvas 24ft 2in long, and its hide, teeth, and claws will form one of the main items o- mV euncctioii.”