The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-01-04
EGRET IS A SHY BIRD.
How Hunters Secure the Fine Feath-
crs for Millinery Purposes.

HOW hunters secure the F1ne Fc0tns
ers for Millinery Purposes.
Nearly 6 feet high, very dark from the
burning of tropical sun, but Sinewy and
strong in appearance, was Charles H. Mohr-
mann few days ago as he related his story
of the hunting of the egret in South Amer
lea. At first glance he would be taken for
an officer in the Spanish or Cuban army
who had been exposed to the elements in
campaign. He started in his present career
from the feather and hat district of New
York city in an endeavor to reach the
source Of supply of this most valuable mil
lnery decorative finery. In his quest he
hunted through Mexico and Central Amer
lea, only to find that the game pretty
much hunted out in those countries, and
Travelled on into Venezuela before he found
the birds in rOokeries, for it is in a gather
ing of this kind only that they can be shot
with profit. These rookeries may be sought
for years without success.
The danger, the hunter explained, is not
great, being principally from snakes, scor-
pions and centipedes. There is a popular
error, he says, about alligators being ferO-
cious. 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
fiercer. STILL about 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 it. 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 a small launch. The birds
roost in h gh trees standing in water. The
hunter approaches cautiously, anchors I'M
der the tree, and then shoots from daylight
6orly A nvy1i r,in Il, t1,o
used The bird falls near the canus and is
picked up by the hunter. Dogs are not used,
because the aligators are very fond of
dogs These rookeries contain from 10000
to $4,000 birds, about 10 per cent of which
may be taken, 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 America
and Mexico it is from February to October
The best time is in March, April and May
After that the plumes become a little
ragged. On the Orinoco the season is from
about Sept l to Jan. l. There are big rock
cries on Aprene, a tributary to the Orinoco.
Two steam launches are now on that river
and have made considerable money. Rock
cries are on big cattle ranches, owned by
natives, who jealousy guard them. privi-
lege costs about $1,000 and so per cent of the
proceeds. Each bird is worth about SIPS
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 1900 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 SIRENS for six
months in the year during the dry season
there is only twenty-four inches of water
Feathers are plucked, and, after being as
sorted into grades /, 2 and g. are dried and
Theoretically sealed in tin boxes for ship
ment. They are used for millinery pur-
poses and In the English army for officers
helmets. Mr.. Mohrmann has been hunter
for three years and intends going back in
September next.-New York Sun.