Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-24
NEW BIRD LAW.
Il Also Includes Mammals and will
Bother importers.
Does Not Affect Importation Of Domestic Ami
nais and Fowls.

The new national bird law. which
covers mammals also, has gone into
force and importers of live animals
may experience some annoyance from
the fact. 1t is the customs division of
the treasury department that admin
listers the law and circular of in
struction has been mailed to all col
lectors telling them exactly what they
are to do with importations of living
animals of all kinds. including reptiles.
In constituting the law the secretary
of the treasury has decided that the
word animals" as used in the text of
the act shall include reptiles. This
seems reasonable enough, though the
trainers of the enactment probably did
not have these in mind inasmuch as
none of them are regarded as danger
Gus immigrants. Such serpents as the
cobra and python, though obviously
undesirable are natives of the tropics
and could hardly be introduced sue
cessfuly into this country, even if
anyone wished to make the attempt
AS it is now even so harmless a crea-
ture as the Galapagos tortoise cannot
obtain entry unless properly tagged.
shiicti'i IhttitSiiHSS uiiiS Wy
the treasury department is that IA bat
is a bird At all events bats are to be
included under the head of birds as
mentioned in the act. ''All warm
blooded vertebrates provided with
wings, says the circular from the de-
partment. ARE to be classified as
birds" ON the other hand domestic
fowls such as chickens, ducks, geese,
turkeys, etc. are admitted without
restriction. The law strictly forbids
the shipment from one state to another
of the bodies or plumage of birds that
have been unlawfully killed, but it is
provided that TO such question shall be
raised in regard to artificial birds or to
the feathers of barn-yard fowls, which
latter are now largely used for MILL
merry purposes.
Although the trainers of the law evil
IDENTIFY did not want to antagoniZe the
millinery interests. yet it seems as
though they must suffer somewhat
For example, ii has been the custom
for dealers in Florida to carry heron
plumeS out of the state almost without
hindrance Notwithstanding a local law
protecting birds of that species. and as
soon as they got over the boundary
line they were safe from arrest. Now
however, such offenders vii be appre-
hended anywhere and people who pur-
chase the contraband goods from them
are likewise subject to punishment
Mammals recognized as domestic
such as horses. COWS, dogs. etc. are let
in without question as are also certain
specified cage birds. such as canares
and parrots. Pigeons too are marked
o. X. if of the cultivated varieties.
Applications for such permits must
be addressed to the secretary of agri-
culture at Washington, stating the
number of each kind of species of
mammals or birds to be imported
naming the port at which they are to
he landed. and mentioning the pur-
pose for which they are being brought
to the country, whether to be liberated
or kept in captivity. and whether for
propagation or exhibition. Special in
spectors have been appointed at all the
large cities to examine imported an
finals to make sure they correspond in
respect to species to the declaration of
the importer.
The law in question makes a very in
teresting new departure in Uncle Sam S
policy respecting natural history mat
onies of Great Britain. such as New
Zealand and New South Wales. have
had regulations restricting the impor-
tation of animals, but hitherto this
country has granted free admission to
all such immigrants, no matter how
undesirable they might be. 1t is mere
~ lucky accident that nobody has
thought it worth while to introduce
the mongoose, that destructive little
mammal which has done such damage
in Jamaica and other places where it
has found an adopted home. 1t is death
on chickens. for one thing, and soon
destroys all ground nesting wild birds
in any region where it is permitted to
multiply.
| Hitherto it has been a common proc
tice to kill game animals in a State
whore the destruction of such animals
| was forbidden by law. and to send
| them to market in another state where
there was no such prohibtory regula-
| ton. Henceforth. however. not only
the shipper in such cases. but the com
pany that transports the contraband
animals and also the cOnsignee. will be
| liable to fine Of 5000 in each instance.
Every man who ships game is required
| to put his name on the outside of the
| package, with a statement of the con-
| tents. and it is as much of violation
of law to convey game in trunk or
gripsack unmarked as it is to ship or
| sell the same out Of season. The regu-
lation of such interstate traffic is con-
trolled by the State game wardens and
game commissioners.