The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-07


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 patroll-
ing the beach, picking up the objects
cast ashore, and so perfectly is this
work done that in u short time no
remains of the dead fish, that might
become a nuisance, are found there.
The birds at this time present a most
attractive spectacle and many people
collect to watch their movements.
In Avalon bay a number of profess
sional fishermen follow their calling
and when the fish are cleaned every
morning it is an interesting sight. to
observe these scavengers perform their
duties. With them in winter are many
brown pelcans, and all are SO tame
that they gather about the head fish
erman, q Venetian, and take the re-
jectamenta 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
II. This is true Of the gulls all along
the shore. and this place is mentioned
especially as the birds are perhaps
tanner here than elsewhere; but every
where they are the natural health
| guardians of the coast, performing
| their duty so well from San Francis
GO to San Pedro. in the observation of
| the writer there is not a spot that
becomes offensive by the accumulation
of fetd matter.
! 1t would seem that the standing Of
the gulls i'm this respect was beyond
| dispute, but the attempts of dealers
| and their representatives in their eff
| forts to prevent any protecting
| law from passing at San Pedro demon
| Strated that there are many who af-
| feet to believe that the gullS are not
| scavengers and should not be protect
| ed. The most remarkable testimony
! was introduced. one man stated that
| the killing of gulls was necessary to
! enable him 10 obtain a living, and evil
| dcncc showed the extraordinary fact
that he had been killing the birds to
| use, not the plumage, but the bodies
as baits 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 sosgy ignorance still holds in the
civilized parts of the country.
The sea birds of the Pacific coast are
not alone scavengers, but they Consti-
| tute one OF the charms of the country.
An appreciation of this is termed SEN
timent by some. The long lines Of
slags flying by the outer islands, the
flocks of brown pelicaus whi2h swim
into the little bays. the scores of
grebes and divers which lurk about
the wharves, the longWngel alba
tross and frigate bird which OCCASION
ally reach these shores, any many
more, have been the delight of many 81
vGyager and traveller who have made
the trips To the California islands to
| View them. At present the sea birds,
lWclu3ing the brown pelican, are pro-
| tcctcd though doubtless there are
pOanEers. and in a few years the in
| crease of birds will he readily noticed
as the killing has been going ON for
ten or more years ON the Pacific.
Some dealers in feathers and their
friends claim that birds are not de-
creasing. but the writer knows locali'
ties in Florida, where in 1860 birds
were seen in thousands, that are now
deserted The great marsh by the sea,
i'm Southern california, which twelve
| '
Vulnerable white herons knows them
no more. England alone uses 30,OOO'OOl
birds for decorative purposes, ana Ia
provide all Europe l5o,OOO,0Oo are an
nually destroyed, and when we add
America It brings the sum total up 10
800, ,000, ,0o0 London also takes 100000
hummiug birds every year from this
continent and 500, 900 would, In all pro-
bability, not meet TIA" demands fol
America. England imports 5000 bird,
of paradise yearly, ana these birds
are doomed, while 100000 miscellaneous
birds are used. Some bird lover hao
the curiosity to watch the auction
rooms of a London house four months
and II was found that during thai
time 500. 600 East and West Indian bird
skins were sold here. one Chicago
: dealer received g, 000 humming birds
in one consignment; the same number
of aquatic birds (gulls) and 30O,0Ol
wings. These figures are significant
but the secretary of the Audubon So
cietysof Massachusetts, 10 whom tho
writer is indebted for the figures given
, | could doubtless give "A darker page
/ and If an accurate statement OF tn,
birds destroyed in single year I,
provide the women of the world will
, | feathers could be made. IL would as
tonish those who affect that the queS
ton is one of mere sentiment. Unles,
. | something js done many birds, Valua
p | BILE as sCavengers, as insect eaters anC
as objects of bcagty will be wiped GU
) , Of existence,