Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-05
THE VALUE OF SEA BIRDS
ALL MOST USEFUL AS SCAyENGERS
ON THE COAST.
Some Pertinent Figures Showing the
Frightful Destruction of Feather
ed Life in Past Years.


From the Scientific American.
Remarkable as 1t may seem, It appears
to be a more or less prevalent belief among
certain people that sea birds possess abso-
lutely no value economic factors in the
realm of nature. Certain individuals con-
slider 1t sport to shoot gulls and similar
birds as practice: others assume that gulls
are a nuisance and should be killed Oft
without mercy. An interesting illustration
of this was recently developed in southern
California, where a few citizens had the
temerity to take a stand for the birds.
The defense took the ground that the
gulls were scavengers and Of prime value
to the state; of greater value, in fact. to
the citizens along shore than to the deal
ers in feathers in Chicago and other CEN
ers where feathers are in demand. The
writer prepared as elaborate a statement
as possible bearing on this point, present.
ing facts which were intended to show that
the gulls on the Atlantic coast, on the Cuff
of Mexico and on the Pacific, In fact, wher-
ever observed, were of great benefit. An
appeal was made for the birds as a natural
ornament to the localities in which they
were found. Many people, ornithologfsts and
laymen. testified along these lines. Resi-
dents of the towns of Redondo, Santa Mon
lea, San Pedro and Avaon testified to the
fact that the birds are the natural beach
scavengers, and that some of these places
would be unhealthy If birds were removed
Hundreds Of gulls are seen riding the
waves on the beach after a storm feeding
on dead fish that have washed in. The ma
jority are on the water. rising over the
heavy breakers in scores as they come In,
to alight again and feed upon the fishes
that are rolled over and over by the waves
Others are patrolling the beach, picking up
the objects cast ashore. and so perfectly
is this work done that in short time no
remains of the dead fish, that might be-
come a nuisance. are found there, The birds
at this time present most attractive spec
tacle, and many people collect to watch
their movements.
In Avalon bay a number of professional
fishermen follow their calling, and when
the fish are cleaned every morning it Is an
interesting sight to observe these scaVen-
gers perform their duties. With them IN
winter are many brown pelicans. and all
are SO tame that they gather about the
head fisherman, a Venetian. and take the
rejectamenta from his hand, some of the
old gulls even allowing him to take them
up. 1t Is not necessary to carry the refuse
out into the channel: these birds remove it
all; in fact. fight for it. This is true of the
gulls all along the Shore and this place is
mentioned especially the birds per-
haps tanner here than elsewhere; but ev-
erywhere they are the natural health guar
dams of the coast, performing their duty
so well from San Francisco to San PEDRO.
in the observation of the writer, there is
not spot that becomes offensive by the
accumulation of fetid matter.
IL WOulu SEEM tUdl the SldHuluS Oh lIle
gulls In this respect was beyond dispute,
but the attempts of dealers and their rep
reSentativeS in their efforts to prevent any
brd-protecting law from passing at San
Pedro demonstrated that there many
who affect to elieve that the gulls are not
scavengers and should not be protected.
The most remarkable testimony intro
duced. Men testified that gullS We're a det-
riment to the harbor and menace to pub
lie health. One man stated that the killing
of sulis was necessary to enable him to OBJ
tain living. and evidence showed the ex-
traofdinary fact that he had been killing
the BIRDS to use, not the plumage. but the
bodies as bats to his lobster and fish traps,
and as bait for certain fish. Some of the
testimony even at this time is past belief
and well illustrates that a deep and soggy
ignorance still holds in the civilized parts
of the country.
The sea birds of the Pacific coast are not
alone scavengers, but they constitute one
of the charms of the country. An apprecia-
ton of this is termed sentiment by some.
The long lines of slags flying by the outer
Islands. the docks of brown pelicans which
swim into the little bays, the scores of
grebes and divers which Turk about the
Wharves, the long-winged albatross and
1rlgate bird which occasionally reach these
SHORES, and many more, have been the de-
light of many voyager and traveller who
nave made the trips to the California ISL
ands to view them. At present the sea
birds, including the brown pelican are pro-
tected, though doubtless there are poach-
ers, and in a few years the increase of
birds will be readily noticed, as the killing
has been going on for ten or more wears on
the Pacific 0-
Some dealers in feathers and their friends
claim that birds are not decreasing, but the
writer knows localities in Florida. where
IN LOU olrds were seen in thousands, that
are now deserted The great marsh nv the
sea, in southern California, which twelve
years ago was the winter home of innumer-
able white herons knows them no more
england alone uses 81, 000, 900 birds for dec
oratlNe purposes, and to provide all Europe
lD.oOO,OOO are annually DESTROYED and
when we add America it brings the sum
total up to 100000, 900. London also takes
4oo'ouo hunmng birds every year from this
continent, and 100000 would, in all proba-
biiity, not meet the demands for America
England imports 5000 birds of paradise
yearly, and these birds are doomed while
4oo,o0 miscellaneous birds are used Some
plrd lover had the curiosity to watch the
auction rooms of a London house four
months, and 1t was found that during that
time 100000 East and West Indian bird
SKINS We're sold here. One Chicago dealer
received 5000 humning birds in one con-
SiSnment; the same number of aquatic
birds (gulls) and 100000 wings THESE
of the Audubon Society of Massachusetts
10 whom the writer is indebted for the |
isures given, could doubtless give darker
page, and II an accurate statement of the
BIRDS destroyed In single year to provide
the women of the world with feathers
could be made. it would astonish those
VINO affect that the question is one of mere
sentiment. Unless something is done many
birds, valuable scavengers, as insect |
eaters and as objects of beauty will he
wiped out of existence.