The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30
QUAIL AND DIPLOMACK
Five European Nations Involved in This
Controversy.


Controversy.
That q game bird should be the subject Of
diplomatic negotiation between FIVE Of the
nations Of Europe Is one Of tho curiositiss Of
international controversy. The facts are
these: The European quail. or. rather. the
quail that Ia found there In the spring. sum.
mer and autumn. is not an indigenous bird.
but migrant. Northern Africa and the Nile
Valley are Its winter home. but In the spring 10
CROSSES the Mediterranean en- route to Eng.
land. Ireland and central Europe. from Hun
gary to South Russia. whore 1t breeds. and
whence. when that function 10 complete
and the young fully grown. In the late
autumn 1t returns to Africa When In
migration In the spring these quails
are caught In nets. not only In Egypt.
but on the islands OF the Mediterranean. the
coast OF the Pontine marshes and In Sicily.
whore they were sometimes netted in the past
to the extent OF 100000 day. The greatest
catches were made on the Bosporus. In the
islands OF the Greek archipelago they are cured
and smoked. and large trade Ia carried on in
them. In Italy In former times the netting Of
them was the more persistent. and 90 numerous
were they that when In flight during the night
they overturned small boats near the shore by
lighting on their sails and rigging. For
Fds oea 0p
measures were employed to prevent their CAD
ture; but now. through means OF rapid trans
nortati9n, al on the markets Of Europe and
are Unsupported alive In crates. and are iSt-
tened before being sold.
The result OF this enormous netting OF the
emigrating quails Ii to reduce greatly the
number that is available to the sportsman for
sixty were consldered good days average to
the single gun in tho various countries which
they visited. This average Is now reduced to
one Of ten or twelve, and the determined pro:
test Of the influential sportsmen has aroused
their capture during the spring emigration,
While each European state can and does
protect Its non migratory game birds. II can
do nothing for the protection OF quails without
tterrit9rles they nest and breed. To accomplish
this France. Austria. Germany and Switzer-
land have signed a protocol forbiddinE the metz
ting Of quallS within their borders and the
transportation Of Egyptian bl rds across their
domains The latter clause. however. oannot
DO made effective without the co-operatlon Of
Great Britain. inaSmuch as the quall5 netted
in Egypt are transported to MarssieS and
Trieste In English steamers and their transit
across the countries interested cannot be pro-
consumption solely in England. As by far the
largest catch Of spring quail Is made In Egypt,
and the one the most fatal to their future In
Europe the refusal OF the British government
% prohibit netting in the valley Of the
portation to the English market. nulllnes
the efforts Of Austria. France Switzerland and
Germany for their protection, The correspon-
dence OF tn" various nations interested in THIS
matter Is quite yolumInous. Great Britain
volve an element Of gain to The. subjects Of the
Queen, assumes a purely selhsh attitude ana
declines TO made any concessions 10 what IL
considers sentimental proposition.