Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-15
DESTRUCTION OF TEE BIRDS
Action Taken by the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty.
GAME ASSOCIATION ALSO ALERT
Efforts to Prevent Proposed
Wholesale Killing.

Farmers Are Lined Up in Opposition 20 the
slaughter, aud VIII Prohibit Trespassine
on Their rreinises-Ar tsntiVn Directed to
AN Old Law Protecting Birds.
The Delaware Society for the Pre-
yention Of Cruelty to Animals held u
meeting at its Office in this city Tues
day and adopted the following:
"Resolyed, That this society ex-
presses it adherence of the wanton
and cruel destruction of birds now SO
rife, and its readiness to cooperate. so
far as is eAredient and possible, with
any other society that may be more
especially engaged in preventing such
destruction.
The Delaware Game Protective Asso-
citation is on the alert and Will do what
il can to prevent the proposed whole
sale slaughter of birds. The society
has been assured of the cooperation of
many farmers and other citizens in
various PARTS of the State. The farmers
who are lined up in opposition to the
slaughter propose to prevent trespassing
on their property. Some have notified
President Poole Of the society OF their
| intentions. Mr.. Poole has received
| numerous letters on the subject during
| the past few days. One from the De-
rartment of Agriculture reads as
follows:
Dear Sir: I enclose for your IN
formation clipping just received from
the secretary Of the Pennsylvania
Audubon Society, which states that
contract has been made with certain
residents of Milford, Del, to supply
10000 birds within two months, for
the millinery trade. Can you give me
any information as to whether this re.
mort is correctly And If SO, cannot your
association take'steps to prevent such
wholesale slaughter of birds? You
notice that the article states that while
the contract is supposed to be strictly
within the law in calling for owls,
blackbirds, seagulls, red-winged black
birds and crows, it is understood that
higher prices will be paid for skins of
other species. =,
"In this connection / desire to call
your attention to the law of 1891,
Vol. CX1X, chapter 1877. which i'm
poses penalty of $50 for each robin
shipped out of the State of Delaware
also to the following section Of the
Revised Statutes protecting inseotiyo-
rous birds in your State.
The letter here quotes the law which
protects certain birds. The letter then
, continues:
~ trust we shall have youi cordial
cooperation IN protecting insectivorous
aud harmless, as we'll as game birds,
and as far as possible In preventing the
slaughter of species which are useful
, to the, farmer and protected by State
law. Very truly yours;
Acting Chief, Biological Survey"
Mr.. Poole also has letter from Gov.
Tunnel promising to give all the ait
, he can 10 preventing the slaughter o.
birds. He will call upon the governor
for conference on the matter in a few
s days. :,
The Game Protective Association vii
1 also send detectives to Milford, a
q already stated. These detectives vii
: watch the shipments which may b.
a made, and 10 case the birds shipped ar
' the kind protected by law, arrests will
r be made at once. Sportsmen In variou
parts OF the State have also promised Z
n watch the gunners and in case gam
4 bird is killed they will have arrest
n made at once.
i In addition to feeling that it is tn
duty of the association to protect al
+ birds, the members of the association
a believe that IL this, indisoriminat
Il slaughter is allowed to go on tina
n game birds will also be killed. Th
a price set upon the head of crows an
blackbirds would be the means Of put
q ting lot of irresponsible shooters i
|. the field, who would kill anything /
ii sight in hope that il might be q cro'
"a or a blackbird. The association ha
d lust stocked the State with quail an
ir Is does not propose to have these bird
"a killed or driven away by q lot of me
n cunning for crows at five cents eact
d The farmers also fear the indiscriminat
N eunning, for their farms would be ovei
run with the gunneis. This would nj
ar only grove nuisance, but would ais
IA be dangerous to tho people at work Q
in the farms. Crops would also be il
nj jured, and the section cleared of bird
nj which are valuable to the farme
IA This is one reason why the farme
will be go careful in warning people o
their places.
According to the statement of a vel
known lawyer. who has had much Q!
perience in game law cases, Il
rs slaughter Of birds can be stoppt
whether the birds are specifically pr
~ tected or not. The supreme court
Y. tho United States. In the famous ca
=, of Gsers VS.. the State of Connection
~ laid down the principle that all bir'
OF and wild animals belong to the Sta
70 and can BIO protected by the State
49, it sees fit. Crows are therefore ii
% property of tho State, and the Sta
~ can protect them without specii
70 statute. He believed that PROCLAIM
ne tion, issued by Gov. Tunnel, wou
70 meet the legal necessities of the cas-
lis Ii it would not, then an injuncti'
ng would assuredly stop the slaughte
ne The injunction could be direct
~ against the contractors to prevent the
'ls killing or furnishing birds for the pu
n rose named and on the ground tn
va such action would be q destruction
GO State property aud detrimental to Il
no interests of large number OF either
IT, or it might be directed against I
railroad and steamboat lines dol
. business in Delaware, restraining the
.. from shipping the birds There shou
D.. DO no difficulty in stopping the slaug
lis ter of birds by either method spok
E. OF. This places the matter in nj
p- light, and will probably meet I
NJ, | z;S,,I;a,> until Tho pavt ansai m af 4