ALLIGATOR HUNTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 247, 8 March 1913, Page 10

ALLIGATOR HUNTING

AN EXCITING OCCUPATION. There are many queer industries carried on in Australia, and one of the strangest is that in which .Messrs Lee and Sons, of Proserpine, North Quensland, are engaged. These men are alligator catchers, and, what is more, they capture the saurians alive and cage them at a few hours' notice. The Queensland alligator is entirely different from similar saurians in other parts of the world. The latter can only turn in their own length, the backbone being connected with their head. The backbone of the Queensland species stops at the shoulders, and this accounts for its suppleness, also for the mnnner in which it throws its head forward or sideways fully a foot without moving its body. So supple is it that it can place its head on its own back. Mr. Lee made his first home in Australia on the hanks of Alligator Creek, Townsville, a notorious spot for mancaters. Several of the sauriarts were caught in the fish traps, and this gave Mr. Lee an opportunity to study the habits of Queensland alligators. One day tbe dogs disturbed a wallaby, and, after a long chase, finally drowned it in a creek. An alligator, which was lying on the opposite bank, was alarmed by the barking of the dogs. Mr. Lee stood about 2.)0 yards from the bank, and eagerly watched proceedings. To his surprise, not many seconds had passed before tbe saurian rolled into the water without even a splash, and quickly rose to tbe surface again close to where the dogs had been swimming. He was just too late to catch the latter, but followed them on the bank. Tt pursued the dogs on the hank for about 150 yards, snapping and trying to strike them with its tail. This went on for about twenty minutes, but eventually the saurian became aware of the onlooker's presence, and speedily disappeared.

Mr. Lee and his sons then decided that they could catch the reptiles alive. At this time the alligators were playing sad havoc with the goats, pigs and dogs in the vicinity, and Mr. Lee's scheme was welcomed by those who resided near the creek. His first idea was to lasso the saurians. if he could get near enough to them. Accompanied by his sons, be visited a well-known alligators' haunt, and made a barrier of sticks and bushes overlooking a sloping bank. A small hole was made in the centre of the barrier, and behind this a dog was fastened. The dog began to bark, and shortly, afterwards a large alligator scrambled up the bank and approached the barrier. >Yhen near the hole the dog broke loose and savagely attacked the reptile. Mr. Lee threw the lasso over the alligator's bead as it rose up to double baok to the creek. The other end of the lasso was fastened to a strong mangrove tree, and as the reptile made for the river the rope was slackened out. A lively battle between man and reptile then took place, and Mr. Lee was almost smothered with mud. After the struggle had lasted close on an hour, a piece of rope with a running noose on it was attached to a fcrked stick, and when the saurian opened its mouth the stick and rope were pushed inside. By this means the noose closed in the hollow of the top jaw behind the eye tnsk. A half-hitch of the rope was then put over the lower jaw, the rope was tightened, and the two jaws were securely fastened. The end of the noose was attached to the' tail, and the reptile was thus rendered helpless. Mr. Lee admits that he was almost overcome with fear when he threw the lasso.

Mr. Lee and bis sons (be following week caught and shot several nf the sanrians. owing to their dcstruclivencss to stock. Tn two months he shot fi.'t reptiles. One., which measured I.lft fiin. was sold to Mr. Thomas Lowth, a Towns, ville hotelkeeper. Mr. Lowlh challenged the Lees tn cage the reptile within ten minutes. The challenge was accepted. The alligator was placed in the creek, and within five minutes it was again secured in the cage. Shortly afterwards Mr. Lee secured an order from a Melbourne firm to supply them with several live alligators. TTe caught one measuring 17ft fiin. Tt would have been several inches longer bad it not been that a piece of its tail was missing. Mr. Lee travelled with this reptile and visited Charters Towers. Tt is the largest in girth that has yet been caught alive in Australia. After being exhibited in several Southern Queensland townships it. was sent, in Melbourne, where it arrived safely after fa sling eleven monlh*. Mr. Lee sjates that unless the reptiles are young they will not eat in captivity.