The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-26

city, In an endeavor 10 reach the source
OF supply Of this most valuable millinery
decorative tnery. In his quest ne hunt-
ed through Mexico and Central America.
only to ind that the game WAS pretty
much hunted out In those countries, anu
travelled on into Venezuela before ne
found the birds In roOkerics. Tor II = IN
gathering OF this kind oniy that they
can be shot with profit. THESE iookerles
may be sought for years witcout success.
The danger, the hunter explained, Is
not great. being principally nom snakes.
scorpions and >euupcdcs. lhere ~
popular error, he says, about aiiigators
being ferocious. He says he has ire
quently wadcd out into a shallow stream
crowded with them. and armed Only Win
a stick, no has shouted az them anu
dubbed them over tho nose when tle1
would gel out OF the way as iast as
they could. The long lean klna ARE
fiercer. sun about the only danger wneh
one gets into school OF aJiisalors =
that they viii not move out OF the way
until shot at. and then In their scramble
they may hit the side Of the boat WIN
the tail and splinter IT, a wetting ana
loss of provisions follow.
The egret is a .ny bird. Their rocker
les are IN places not easy or access pue
may be approached IN a small launch
The birds r0ost I'm high trees standing in
water. The hunter approaches CAUTIOUS
~. anchors under the tree, and then
shoot from daylight until dark \ fowl
ing piece is the weapon used. The blfd
falls scar the canoe and is picked up
by the hunter Dogs are not used be-
cause the ailigators are very fond OF
dogs. These rookcries contain from
l0.e0 10 s0.000 birds about ID per cent
of which may Doe taken as only the Old
birds are shot. and then not until the
young ones are able to take care or
themselves. which ls when they are
about six weeks old.
The season varies I'm Central America
ana Mexico DO is from February 20 octo-
her The best time is in March, April
and MAY After that the plumcs be-
come "a little ragged on the orinoco the
season Is from about September Isl 10
January lst There are big rookerics on
Aprono. a tributary of the Orinoco Two
steam launches are now on that river
and have made considerable money.
RooGories are on big cattle ranches.
owned by natives. who jealousy guard
them. A privilege costs about 5000 ana
90 per cent. of the proceeds. Eacn Dlrd
Is worth about $685. The feathers ior
which they are hunted grow on the pack
and hang down over a short .stuhny tan.
About 5000 ounces were shipped from
the Aprene region to- New York last year.
This would approximate about 2oeo
birds. The amounts shipped 10 Paris
and London are larger, but the figures
are not obtainIble.
There are known TO be immense rock
cries on other tributaries of the Ornoco
which have not been approached because
the launches draw thrty-eight 10 forty
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 nluckod. and, after being
assorted into grades I, O. aud B. arc
dried and Theoretically sealed I'm tim
boxes for shipment. They arc used for
millinery purposes and I'm the Engli d
Army for officers helmets. Mr.. Mohr-
mann has been ~ hunter for three years.
and intends going back I'm september
next 1go rccouciics his conscience 10
the slaughter by the fact that the bird
feeds ON fishes. OF which they destroy
millions annually. thus interfering with
the food supply of man. To Keep
healthy in that country me saws one has
10 eat fruit moderately. neither under
nor over ripe take one drink or sugar
cane rum in water daily and a little Quiz
nine occasionally