Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-27
a HUGE CANARY FLIGHT.
10000 Birds arc Brought Here Annually from
Germany

philadelphia Rocord.)
"Theros n funny thing about canary
birds, said Ninth street bird fancier
yesterday, land that Is the fact that
they don't come from the Canary is
lands at all, In fact, the birds on the
Canary islands are 'all green. Canary
birds really come from Germany. On u
rough estimate, should say that fully
100000 are imported to this country
every year OF these, about $1,000 come
TO Philadelphia, where they bring any
where from $3.50 to IS a piece"
IL is remarkable industry, this
trade In canary birds. Tho importa-
tions are controlled almost entirely by
two Now York firms, who have resident
buyers in Germany. Nearly every
German steamer that arrives at New
York brings large Consignments Of the
little yellow warblors. Each bird has
his own cage, and the cages ara made
up In cases Of 1870 each. Canaries arc re-
nowned for their seananship qualities,
aud stand the voyage like veteran tars.
1t is rarely that any Of them die en-
route. They receive the best OF care
aud each shipment is accompanied by n
man whose duty Is TO soc that they get
all they want TO cut and are well cared
for generally.
Another feature OF the business is the
export end. While importing this vast
array OF birds every year, tho United
States sends lots Of American birds 10
Europe, Tho mocking bird finds a
ready market abroad, but the principal
exports were confined TO gnme birds,
which come from the Western states.
California quail, prairie chickens,
grouse, phcosants and other flyers OF
the plains are shipped abroad Ia largo
numbers. These are sold Ia owners OF
large estates, and are used In stocking
cunning preserves
I'VE might spare them n few spar
rows now, said the Ninth street IAN.
cier, and yet 1t hasn't been SO very
long ago thut sparrows were as raro as
cannries. ! remember fifteen or eigh-
teen years ago, when they wore first
introduced into this country, l paid us
high as 50 a pair for them. They woro
curiositios then, and, moreover, they
were in high favor, The people who
run down tho sparrow seem to forget
that they wero tho means of Kidding
Philadelphia OF ono OF It's greatest
pests, Before tho sparrows came IL
WAS impossible to walk whore there were
trees without getting literally covered
with ugly green worms. Now tho
worms are gone, but we stlll have the
sparrows.n
The demand for oannries Is constantly
increasing, and the public Is becoming
harder 20 please in tho matter OF ITS
layorito songster. The imported bird
Is demanded, because those raised in
this country arc much inferior. They
arc not good singers for some reason,
probably because OF change in the eli.
mate. Atany rate, they do not bring
good prices, The female bird does not
sing at all, and rarely brings over u
dollar.
In Germany the poorer classes are
nearly all engaged In raisiug canarles.
Several hundred thousand are shipped
every year 10 all parts Of tho world.
There Is no industry like 1t In exist
once. The birds are strong and hardy,
and require very little attention, CON
sequently among the peasanuy, every
family has its aviary, which Is con-
slant source OF income, Independent OF
the proceeds Of their daily toll, The
buyers for the Now York houses make
periodical trips through the country,
the birds arc bought and are soon On
their way TO America, where they
quickly become accustomed TO their
gilded cages.