Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-10
Shortage in Fruit Crop Attributed
to Slaughter of Birds.
THE VIEWS OF AN OT1UMWA MAN
Says All Birds without Exception Arc
Beneficial to the Fruit Grower
Section of Code Relating to
HAeir Preservation

lHe past lew years is sad to be direct
ly traceable to the wanton destruction
of birds. These sprightly friends of the
fruit grower are said to be of as much
OF necessity almost as the sun and
rain that grows and ripens the crop.
Birds destroy the insects that would
otherwise destroy not only the fruit,
but the tree or plant producing the
same.
These are the sentiments of George
w. kitterman, who called at the Cour-
Ter office recently, ostensibly for the
purpose of making a public statement
OF the conditions as they exist. He at
tributes the shortage in the fruit crop
entirely to the loss of birds. He saws
there isn't a bird that does not in some
way benefit the fruit grower. "Cher-
RES he says, .'are about the most val
liable crop we can raise. and there are
more of them eaten by the birds, per-
haps, than any other single kind of
fruit; yet there isn't single bird but
what will destroy sufficient number
of insects to more than offset, many
times, the value Of all the cherries he
will devour."
Protection of Birds.
The code of Iowa affords protection
to the birds and incidentally to the
fruit grower. A penalty is provided
for killing the members of the feather
ed tribe, with the exception of blue
jays and English sparrows
Section 1851 of the revised code saws:
No person shall destroy the nests or
eggs of, or catch, take, kill or have in
possession or under control for any
purpose whatever, except specimens
for use OF taNidermists, at any time,
any whipporwill, night-hawk, biuebird,
finch, thrush, linnet, lark, wren, mar,
tin, swallow, bobolink, robin, turtle,
dove, catbird, sandpiper, snowbird,
blackbird, or any other harmless bird
except bluejays and English sparrows,
but nothing herein shall be construed
TO prevent the removal of nests from
buildings, and the keeping of song
birds in cages as domestic pets. Any
person violating any of the provisions
of this section shall be fined not less
than one dollar nor more than twenty
| five dollars and costs of prosecution,
and may be committed to the county
Jail until such fine and costs are
| paid.''
Prosecutions.
Section 1858, relating to all prosecu-
tons. says: in all prosecutions under
this chapter, any number of violations
may be included in one information,
but each one shall be set out in a sep
arate count, and upon conviction there
shall be taxed as a part of the costs
OF the case a fee of five dollars to the
informant and like fee of five dollars
to the attorney prosecuting the case up.
on each count upon which there is a
plea of verdict of guilty and judg-
ment of conviction; but in no event
shall this fee be paid out of the coun-
ty treasury. Prosecutions for viola
tons of any provision of this chap
ter may be brought either in the coun-
| ty in which the offense was committed,
or in any other county where the per-
son, company or corporation complain
ed of has had or has in his or their DOS
session any fish, birds or animals nam,
ed herein or bought, sold, caught, ia.
ken, killed, trapped or ensnared in vic.
laIion hereof
No Birds Wanted.
In this connection it might be well
to say that there is no truth whatever
in the press dispatches sent from Mil.
/ ford, Delaware that a contract has
been made with the New York mill
merry merchants for 2O,0vv birds fol
Easter bonnets. No birds are wanted
it is said. for Easter millinery trim
mings; they are unstable, and con.
sequently of no value to the trade
The work of the Audubon society thru
out the country has left its impress
Women are becoming more reconcileC
to the belief every year that birds are
not necessity on their headgear anc
when the time comes that this elias.
of ornamentation is distinctly tabooet
one cause of the wanton destruction
of our feathered friends will have beer
removed.