The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-02-03

thas. NJ. Cooke for full Information OF
the ostrich farming experiments IL
these islands. Mr. Turner. for som.
time manager Of the ostrich company
has replied and says:
Honolulu, n. l., Jan. 26, 1899.
Mr.. r. $. Palmer, Washington, ID. G.
Dear Sir:-Having been interested
with Mr.. Chas. NJ. Cooke in his "os
trich venture" during which time hat
charge of the birds he handed me YOU
letter, written some time ago, ant
asked me TO reply to It.
have not now any data at hand
from which to get exact dates, but can
give you from memory sufficient infor.
nation to enable you to Judge fairly ia
preparing your report. am glad u
be afforded the opportunity TO give my
views on this subject, as | fear that a
mere history of the ostrich business
would result in your reporting 1t an.
other failure, due to uncongenial cli-
mate and soil.
Although these birds have failed to
thrive here. thing that the various
difficulties attending our efforts TO
raise them can justly be attributed TO
u disease with which, In my opinion,
the birds were infected when they were
list in the birds when they appear to be
perfectly healthy-but under the slight
est unfavorable condition will soon
cause fatality. The true cause was not
known for several years--not until the
majority OF them We're reduced to a
degenerate lot unfit to redeem. | say
this because OF so many dying that in
mating them they yielded TO the temp
tation Of inbreeding and each time in
herited the weakness that disease had
produced, SO that for the last three
years their eggs have failed TO hatch
with the best endeavors that could be
applied. SO that even IL the inherited
weakness did not cause the unfertility
OF the eggs, there is only one other
cause that could enter into the question
feeding too highly of grain-and this
high feeding became absolutely neces-
sary to prevent fatality, for whenever
the birds were In the least reduced
they were simply devoured by the dis
ease. ! was first to discover that these
birds had this disease and afterwards
learned that IL was prevalent in South
Africa among ostriches, but no other
animals or birds. Therefore have
good reason to claim that that 1t was
not contracted In this country, but was
imported with the birds. II ] am right
in this conclusion, the chances for sue
cessful ostrich farming in Hawaii are
yet very good. Our climate Is excel
lent, with much natural food, and the
ostrich Is capable OF enduring severe
conditions IL healthy. a brief sketch
Of our experience and / win leave IL
with you to judge whether or not am
right:
In 1890, or whereabouts. DIR. Trous-
seau brought two pairs Of full grown
birds from California, one of which Ga
male) was said to have been originally
shipped from South Africa. A short
time after they arrived one OF them
died. DR.. TrOusseu Immediately sent
for another one-this Ave In number
being all that were ever shipped to this
country. They were placed in an en-
closure near the well known pleasure
resort OF Waikiki, and soon began to
breed, but their young were very diff
ficut to raise-gradually dying at diff
ferent ages until there were not more
than 10 per cent OF them matured
Frequent examinations were made and
they were found to be dying from an
Unframed stomach" and, as few
nails or pieces OF brass cartridge shells
were generally found in their stomachs,
these we're said to be the cause of
death. Both incubators and the nat
ural way were used in Matching, the
latter being more successful. They
were fed corn, sorghum, alfalfa and
cabbage.
They had, however, In March '95,
brought the number up to thirty-four,
three pairs Of which were breeding
birds. At this time C. N. Cooke pur-
chased them, and together with some
other gentlemen OF Honolulu, formed
stock company and decided to move
the Ostriches to the island OF Kauai
about 100 miles from Honolulu. We
had what seemed an ideal place there,
but the fatality amongst the birds be-
came more frequent and we lost about
so per cent OF them within three
months. As usual there was found up
on examination some rubbish. such as
pieces OF nails. glass, ETC., in their
stomachs. but after all the halls were
exhausted, they still continued to die
WIN the same symptoms. l then pro-
cured strong magnifying glass, under
which placed small piece of the "in-
hamed stomach" and learned that they
were being devoured by a small red
parasite In the shape of a worm, yet
80 small that think there were fully
fifty on a piece much less than half
the size OF a small pea. Describing the
disease, then made inquiry OF an COS
trich farmer" In Cape Colony, who
prescribed carbolic acid az remedy.
found this OF very little use, az II
killed Oftener than It cured. Finally
however, stopped them from dying by
changing their food. feeding them
nothing but succulent green food, with