Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-11-11
EORET - A SHY BIRD.
How Hunters Secure the Fine Feathers
for Millinery Purposes.

How Hunters Secure the Fine Feathers
for Millinery Purposes.
From the New York Sun: Nearly 6
feet high, very dark from the burning
of tropical sun, but sinewy and
strong In appearance. was Charles H.
Mohrmann few days ago as he re-
lated his story OF the hunting Of the
egret In South America. 1t fret
glance he would be taken for an off,
Ger in the Spanish or Cuban army who
had been exposed to the elements In
q campaign. He started in his present
career from the feather and hat dis
trict Of New York city in an endeavor
to reach the source Of supply OF this
most valuable millinery decorative fin
cry. In his quest he hunted through
Mexico and Central America, only 10
find that the game was pretty much
hunted out in those countries, and
Travelled on into Venezuela before he
found the birds In rookeries, for 1t Is
in gathering Of this kind only that
they can be shot with profit. These
without success. The danger, the hunt
er explained. is not great, being princi-
pally from snakes, scorpions and GEN.
tipedes. There is popular error, ne
says, about alligators being ferocious.
He says he has frequently waded out
into a shallow stream crowded with
them and armed only with stick; he
has shouted at them and dubbed them
over the nose. when they would get
out Of the way as fast as they could.
The long, lean kind are fercer. Still.
etout the only danger when one gets
into school Of alligators Is that they
will not move out OF the way until
shot at. and then in their scramble
they may hit a side Of the boat with
the tail and splinter 1t. A wetting and
loss Of provisions follow. The egret
is shy bird. Their rookeries are in
places not easy OF access, but may be
approached In small launch. The
birds roost in high trees standing In
water. The hunter approaches eau
tiously. anchors under the tree. and
then shoots from daylight until dark.
A fowling piece is the weapon used.
The bird falls near the canoe and Is
picked up by the hunter. Dogs are
not used. because the alligators are
very fond Of dogs. These rookeries
contain. from 10000 to 10000 birds,
about Is per cent Of which may be
taken, as only the old birds are shot.
and then not until the young ones are
able to take care of themselves. which
is when they are about six weeks old.
The season varies. In Central Amer
lea and Mexico 1t is from February to
October. The best time Is In March,
April aud May. After that the plumes
become a little ragged. On the Orino-
co the season is from about Sept. 1
to Jan. I. There are big rookeries on
Aprene, tributary Of the Orlnoco.
Two steam launches are now on that
river and have made considerable
money. Rookeries are on big cattle
ranches, owned by natives, who jeal-
ously guard them. A privilege costs
about $4,000 and so per cent Of the
proceeds. Each bird is worth about
s125. The feathers for which they are
hunted grow on the back and hang
down over short, stubby tail. About
5000 ounces were shipped from the
Aprene region to New York last year.
This would approximate about 2OO.-
900 birds. The amounts shipped to
Paris and London are larger, but the
figures are not obtainable. There are
known to be immense rookeries on
other tributaries Of the Orinoco which
have not been approached because the
launches draw thirty-eight to forty
eight inches Of water. In these
streams for six months in the year
during the dry season there Is only
twenty-four inches of water. Feathers
are plucked, and, after being assorted
into grades /, 2 and 8, are dried and
Theoretically sealed in tin boxes for
shipment. They are used for millinery
and in the Eaglish army for
officers helmets. Mr.. Mohrmann has
been a hunter for three years and in
tends going back in September next. !