There is hereby levied a severance tax on each alligator skin taken from any alligator within this state, payable to the state through the department by the alligator farmer selling or shipping his skins within or without the state or taking his own catch out of state, at the rate of $1.00 on each skin. Failure to pay such severance tax subjects all alligator skins held by such alligator farmers to confiscation by order of the department. Failure to maintain complete records and to pay the severance tax as provided herein subjects any alligator farmer to the full penalties provided in this article and the immediate revocation of his license by the department. No license shall be issued to any alligator farmer who has not paid such severance tax for the preceding year. Violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.