AN ALLIGATOR FARM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10072, 18 June 1910, Page 4

AN ALLIGATOR FARM.

Mr 11. J. Campbell, "Alligator Joe," has brought his alligator farm in the suburbs of Hot Springs, Florida, to a wonderful state of perfection. At first be was laag ed at, and

consternation was exhibited by some persons—now the farm is.the "shaw spot" of Florida. Icet the start wa simplicity itself. After having pre pared the ground, "Alligator Joe" secured first-class specimens with which to stock his farm, and in the fulness of time the industry was in full swing. Everything is worked to a system. Even the hatching of the eggs is clone by incubators. The creatures are penned *'off in "runs." according to size and age, this provision being necessary, as the alligator is a notorious cannibal. The cost of i maintenance is a mere trifle. The alligator is a promiscuous scavenger, and slaughter-yard offal is quite to his taste. The half-grown and younger members receive scraps and tainted meat from the butchers' shops, as well as unconsidered trifles from the fishmongers and poulterers. The very small fry receive miscellaneous tit-bits carefully minced and ground up. Mr Campbell's avenues of income are numerous. Leather, of course, is the principal output. Alligator teeth, sell at from ten to fifteen shillings a pound, the feet are turned into ornaments, and there 13 a demand for steaks and eggs, the latter being much esteemed for omelette making. There is, of course, always a large and remunerative demand for specimens for travelling menagerie? and zoological collections. Mr Campbell has been so richly rewarded for hia enterprise that others have gone into the industry, and numerous other establishments have sprung into existence in Louisiana and Florida since "Alliagtor Joe" first demonstrated this method of making money.