Evening journal., 1899-11-27
MANY BIRD SKINS BURNED


TAGH. J.. J.. DESTROYED BY
FIRE.
A dispatch from Wantagh l.. l.. to
the New York Sun says:
A factory at this place, where the
skins and plumage Of birds were pre-
pared for the purpose Of ornamenting
womens hats, was destroyed. The es-
tablishment was the largest of its kind
in the United States, and had agents in
he South and at numerous other places
engaged in shooting or trapping birds
for millinery purposes The plant was
owned by William l.. Wilson, of this
place The immediate loss occasioned
by the fire is placed at $4,000, but the
damage to Mr.. Wilson's business just
at this time when the busy season had
begun will be very much larger. He
will rebuild the plant at once. The
factory was 100x50 feet, one story high
nd built Of wood.
There were many peculiar features to
Mr.. Wilson's business. Only few
weeks ago his stock Of birds and wings
was very low, but he had just received
some big shipments Of valuable bird
skins preparatory to beginning the ac-
tive ntd1On VI AoA AnN
Spring demands and especially on the
Easter hat trade. Thousands of these
skins were destroyed. He usually en-
ploys fifty hands, and would have in
creased his force TO that number be-
fore the Christmas holidays. There
was in stock in the factory 10000 stuff
ed sea gulls, 10000 wings OF various
other birds, 10000 heads Of birds, rep
lresenting many varieties from the
beautiful plumed birds of the South TO
the plain Long Island crow. The re-
sources OF the establishment had been
severely taxed during the past year to
provide long wings and single feathers,
and a number of special gunners We're
sent out to provide a supply of those
birds that would meet that demand.
Long Island baymen all last Winter
made more money shooting birds for
Mr.. Wilson than they did at their regu-
lar callings Of oyster gathering or fish
ing.
The establishment had men stationed
at Cape Cod, the islands OF the coast Of
Maine, the shores OF Virginia and on
the Florida coasts These men were
kept busy filling special orders for GER
tain varieties Of birds found in those
localities.
A few days ago several cunning OUT
fits we're sent out from the establish
ment for the Winters work. One party
went out In q big sloop to secure a
cargo of water fowl Of different sorts,
and another party was sent South With
a naphtha launch to explore Southern
rivers for birds and the Florida coasts
will be hunted by stlll another outfit.
Some Of these gunners kill a large
number of birds I'm season. The
greatest record made by any one man
was for 900 killed in a single sea-
son in Florida.
After shooting the birds the gunners
remove the skins without disturbing
the feathers The skins are turned in
side out and sprinkled with a prepara-
tion to Keep them until they reach the
factory After the skins are treated
in the factory they are put in barrel
filled with a preparation like dry plas-
ter OF Paris. The barrel is revolved
until the skins become perfectly coat
ed with the preparation. Then they
are removed and turned right side oui
and the bodies stuffed so as to resemble
the live bird. Some varieties OF birds
/ nave skins that are very tender and
their removal has to be accomplished
with great care The skins reach the
factory packed in sea grass. Birds that
are shot nearby are sent intact to the
factory and the carcasses are packed in
ice and sold to hotels and restaurants
The establishment had use for every
kind OF birds. Even guinea hens were
used, and sometimes special styles OF
trimmings were made by combining the
head and body Of one bird with the
wings and tail feathers OF others.
Il Mr.. Wilson had a number OF live
birds in the factory in a small apart
ment These escaped during the fire
and a cage was set out and a number
were caught again. In the cage wer,
lseveral varieties Of birds, including
number Of fancy pigeons, which wer,
fused in the preparation OF a certain
line Of high-class hat ornaments.