The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-11-17
NO MORE ROBBlNC NESTS.
The Government Puts a Stop to IA Very
Profitable Industry.

After having been despoiled Of their
eggs for forty-tiye years, as regularly
as the laying season came round, the
sea birds that inhabit the Farallones
have been taken under the protecting
wing of the United States.
No more will the pretty spotted and
notified eggs grace the tables of those
who are fond of them, or enable the
cheap restaurant to advertise "four
fresh ranch eggs, scrambled, for ten
cents"
The edict has gone forth that the
birds must be protected, and protected
they will be, for Uncle Sam has habit
of doing such things thoroughly when
he starts to do them at all, and there
is no reason to suppose that he will
make this case al exception.
A year OF more ago rumor reached
the ears of the powers that be at Wash
ington that the great natural aviary on
the island was being destroyed, be-
cause during the nesting season thou
sands of eggs were taken from the
rocks and sent to San Francisco and
interior towns to be sold.
In due time a representative of the
Smithsonian Institution, deeply learned
in bird lore, went to the Farallones
and made al exhaustive study of the
subject.
His report was evidently against the
continuance of the industry, for after
the customary red tape had been I'M
wound Head Keeper Beeman OF the
island lighthouse received curt COM
munication from the Lighthouse De-
partment stating that in future no egg
collecting, except for the use Of those
who made their homes on the desolate
pile of rocks, would be allowed.
Thus persisted one of the most pic
turesque Industries of the Pacific
Slope and one that furnished the peo-
pie of San Francisco with on article OF
food not enjoyed by any other seaport
in the country.
The stopping Of the gg-picking
brings to mind the experience Of the
first man who embarked in the bust
ness-none other than John A. Rus
sell, the veteran and widely known
clerk of the local board Of supervisors.
It was in the latter part of 1850 that
Mr.. Russell, then la;! Of eighteen,
came down from the mines with a
goodly sack of gold dust and nuggets
that he had accumulated by delving in
the earth.
He was looking for q profitable i'll
vestmeDt, and not long after his arrival
here fell in with the cook of the only
pilot boat that at that time stood
guard at the entrance Of the Colder
Gate.
The man had seen the millions O.
sea birds nesting Oh the rocks, and
drew such alluring pictures of the
money to be made by landing the big
eggs in this city, where at that time
chicken fruit was not over-plentiful
that young Russell at last consented
to furnish the sinews of war for thu
enterprise, the cooks contribution t.
) the assets of the firm to be his labo
. and experience in gathering the eggs
getting them to this city and finding
, market. A stout sloop was purchased
and an outfit made ready at a total cos
Of about $4,000
When the egg season arrived thu
: expectations of the partners wer
, more than realized. The first carg
that arrived sold like the proyerbia
hot cakes at the prices of early days
the big, queer-looking eggs ticklin
, the fancy as well as the palates OF tn
pioneers.
+ Within few days contracts with
! number of hotels had been made q
y lucrative rates, and the sloop made a.
:, haste back across the twenty-five
!. miles Of water that interviewed betwee
the gate and the lonely rocks, at ths
time inhabited only by seal hunters.
Several cargoes Of eggs were lande
at an average profit of $1,000 tril
y and the vessel and her fitting OF
!. were soon paid for,-San Francise