The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-13
! taB SLA gGHFER :
- :: :. .i0F' BIRDS.
Indignation is Aroused
Against the Slaughter
of 10000 crows
and BIaCkbirdS.

The contract secured by John
Ward and John Bennett. of Milford,
to supply 10000 crows and crow
blackbIrds has caused Indignation
to be aroused by Societies in the
adjoining States. Philadelphia So
cicties have taken an interest in
the matter.
Money has been voted to defray
the EXPENSES Of prosecutions; petit
tons have been addressed to the
governors of Delaware. New Jersey
and PENNSYLVANIA; railroads have
been notified that they are liable
to heavy damages for transporting
birds; detectives may be sent to
Milford, and 10000 circulars have
been sent to the farmers of Della
ware urging them tc take no part
in fulfilling the contract.
Following this is a notice signed
by Wilmer Stone, chairman of the
American Ornithologists Committee
on Bird Protection. This notice
says:
IASShL piti Sopo Np'tl NV
TO slaughter birds of all sorts in
Delaware, for the benefit of MILL
nary firm in New York demands the
protest of every intelligent citizen
Of the State. Many OF these birds,
as pointed out time and again by
the United States Department OF
Agriculture. are of inestimable
value to the farmer, as they destroy
millions OF insect pests.
Their slaughter just at this
season, as they are coming North
to breed, will greatly decrease
their numbers next year and re-
suit in a great host of injurious in
sects. We feel sure that the farm
ers of Delaware are too intelligent
10 disregard these well-known facts
and that they will do their utmost
to stop this slaughter.
"Another aspect is the law.
Many of these BIRDS are protected
under heavy fines, andlurthermore,
railroads and other common car
riers are liable to prosecution for
shipping birds killed contrary to
the laws of the State.
IA large sum is now in the hands
of the undersigned committee for
the prosecution Of violators of the
! bird laws in any part of the United
States and steps will be taken to
prosecute wherever possible.
: n D,,1 Drar i,art .,f ba q n, 4,
Protective Association sent letter
to Mr.. Stone. In the letter he said:
Il am writing to our governor to
know if he can suggest any waJ or
any action that this association can
take to stop the slaughter at Mil
ford. ! propose TO have one detec-
tive watch the shipment from Mil
ford. He has authority to open and
examine any package that he sus-
poets contains birds killed contrary
TO law and to bring suit for viola,
tons.
Other well-known persons who
joined with Mr.. Stone in this mani.
festo are George II. Mackev. OF
| bOSlbu, u. IL. L VI buSll, vi uh dl'lSii
Mass; William butcher, OF New
York: Mrs. Olive Thornc Miller, %
New York: Mrs. Julia Stockton
Robins, of Philadelphia; Florence
A. Merriam, Of Washington DR.
Theodore $ Palmer, of Washing
ton: Ruthven Deane. of Chicago
Otto Widmann, of Old Orchard
Mrs Louise McGown Stephenson
of Helena. Mont Mrs, Leverett Nj
Loomis. of San Francisco: A. w
Anthony of San Diego. and William
Palmer, of Washington.
Mr.. Poo e answered the circular
by informing Mr. Stone that he hat
already written to Governor Tun
nell proposing that detectives watcf
the shipments from Milford, will
authority to open and examine an,
suspicious packages.
The Game Protective Association
OF MARYLAND also sent letter stat
ing that funds were being raised t.
employ detectives for the same pur
pose. and the Governors of the tire
States have been urged to use thei
influence to prevent the slaughte
and to procure Legislation to pre-
hibit similar attempts at the whole
sale destruction Of birds in future