The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-06-23
Is \ SWAN POULTRY?

The Board of General Appraisers has
some curious questions presented to it
for decision. Some one in Port
Townsend imported a pair of swans,
bred in captivity, and was promptly
assessed three cents a pound for them
as poultry" To this was objected that
swans We're not poultry" but were ex-
empt from duty as land and water
fowls" The Appraisers discuss learn
edly
IF swans are not poultry, within the
meaning of the former paragraph, they
are, beyond dispute, adequately describ-
ed by the latter. We need, then, only
consider the sense of the term poultry"
as used in paragraph 27S, in it's bearing
on this case, An authoritative defini-
ton is as follows:,
Poultry. % Domestic fowls collective
ly; those birds which are ordinarily
Kept in a state of domesticatiOn for
their flesh, eggs, or feathers; as the do
mestic hen, turkeys guinea fowls, geese
and ducks. Pigeons are not ordinarily
included in the term, nor are pheasants
or other birds which are kept in pre-
serves for sporting purposes. Century
Dictionary.D
The Encyclopedia Britannica (title
SWAMP speaks Of the swan as
\ large swimming bird, well known
from being kept in a haIf-domesticated
condition throughout many parts of
Europe, whence it has been carried to
other countries.
This authority does not discuss the
swan under the caption of Poultry
1t there says
The aquatic birds which are strictly
entitled to be considered domesticated
poultry are the duck and the goose.
In all probability, it relegates the
swan to separate consideration upon
the same ground with the peacock
which it says lis to be regarded rarher
bird"
II is observed in another place that the
peacock "can hardly be accounted an
lnhabltant of the pOultry-yard, but ra-
ther an ornamental denizen of the
pleasure ground or shrubbery." Ib..
little "PeacOck"l
In this respect there is a close analogy
with the swan, which is commonly
lhOuShI OF as adjoining the garden pool
or park mere, and is not associated
with ordinary barnyard fowl. 1t is with
reference TO the latter class that
the term poultry is used in the
statute. It's cOllOcatiOn with the word
dressed" confirms this, as indicating
that the term applies more directly to
poultry ordinarily used for food 1t is
true that the swans flesh is edible par
ucularly that Of the young (cygnets),
and its plumage has commercial va
lue but ii can scarcely be said that the
swan is ordinarily kept" for either
purpose, CNote generally Encyc. Brit,
Century Die, caption swamp Swans
down seems to be largely the product of
the wild swan. (SpOn's Encyc., vii. l, D.
9Oj)
1t has been assumed that the birds in
question are tame, as distinguished
from wild swans. The classification of
the latter would be governed by various
Board decisions holding that wild geese
and wild ducks are not dutiable as
poultry.
And after a grave summing up it Is
decided that the swan is not poultry
within the meaning of the act. Who
says there are no humor in the custom
house. Now the next thing to classify
should be an ornithorynchus paradoxus
or duck billed platypus. Would It be
a bird or beast? Would 1t be poultry
or domestic animal? There would pe
fun at the custom house with a duck
billed platypus.
nj 70 L..