The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-17

could comply with the general Law, just /;
a. any other company.
The bill then passed third reading
without objection.
House Bill, TO incorporate the town %
Drum, in Robson county, passed final |
reading.
House Bill. to incorporate the town Of
Pinetops. in Edgecombe county, passed
final reading.
House Bill. to authorize the Commits
sioncrs Of Mitchell county to lcvy a spe-
cial tax TO compromise its Indebtedness,
passed final reading.
House Bill, supplementary to an act to
authorize the city of Fayetteville to issue |
bonds for the construction of water
works, etc. passed final reading.
House Bill, to authorize Beaufort coun-
ty TO levy a special tax, passed final
reading.
House Bill, directing the commission
ers of Pendcr county regarding the sink
ing fund, passed final reading.
House Bill, to authorize the Commits
sioners Of Yancey county to levy a spc-
cial tax, passed final reading.
House Bill, TO amend and consolidate
the charter of the town of Breyard, pass
ed final reading.
House Bill. to authorize the Commits
sioncrs of Mcdowell county to levy a
special tax, passed final reading.
House Bill, to authorize Commissioners
of Camden county to levy a special tax,
passed final reading.
House Bill. to authorize the town Of
Elkin TO issue bonds, passed final read
ing.
AUDUBON BILL.
The bill to incorporate the Audubon
Society Of North Carolina, and protect
the song and game birds of the State
came up at II o'clock as the special Or
der.
Mr.. Robertson. of Guilford. said the
Audubon Society was composed Of cne
thousand leading men in North Carolina,
who had drafted the bill.
Prof. T. Gilbert Pearson. of Green's
bOro, he said, was the prime mover in
this matter. He then paid a hich tri-
butte to Prof. Pearson, as an ormitholo-
gist, saying his book on bird life had
been adopted by the public schools CT
Boston. and moved that the House take
recess for 20 minutes in order to hear
Prof. Pearson.
~ '''7 ooA-1 bloI tilo
motion, but it finally passed by a vote of
SO TO 33.
Prof. Pearson was introduced to the
House by Mr.. Mcneil, of Scotland.
Prof. Pearson spoke of the great mi
g%rations of the $4,000 species of birds
known to exist in this country.
The sea-birds, he said, were the scav-
engers of the ocean. Some birds are of
great benefit to humanity by feeding
upon the seeds of certain weeds. But
the principal service they perform for
mankind is in the destruction Of insects.
He described very graphically and beau
tifully the methods pursued by the birds
in destroying all kinds of insects.
The swallow. he said. was known to
consume over 700 insects in one day, and
the robin twice its own weight every
day. One nest full of thrushes he had
watched had consumed over 5000 worms
in a day.
He spoke of the amount of money
brought into the State by the Northern
hunters, who rent privileges from the
farmers, and SO influence the farmers TO
keep away irresponsible hunters, thus
preserving the birds.
The disappearance of the passenger
pigeon and the North Carolina parakect
was dwelt upon.
The law, he said, was being violated all
the time by shipping cartridges out of
the State, and even hooking birds. The
insect destroying birds were rapidly dis
appearing, partly on account of the adj
vance of civilization, but mostly by
wanton destruction.
He told how the gulls and terms were
slaughtered on our coasts by Northern
p~lumc-hunters, while in the Northern
States the coasts were paroled by game
%wardcns, to protect these scavengcrs of
the sea. Not only were they s~cavengcrs,
but they actually showed fishermen
where tho schools of fish were and
warned mariners by their cries at night.
Statistics had shown that one-tenth OF
the entire agricultural product of the
United States was destroyed last year by
insects.
Prof. Pearson was heartily applaud9d
both when he entered the House and
when he concluded his speech
Mr.. Etheridge gave notice of an amend
ment to exclude Dare county from the
provisions of the bill.
Mr.. Britain gave notice Of amendment
; to exclude Randolph county.
Mr.. Robertson called the attention OF
| the House to the fact that the bill dit
. not interfere with any game laws in any
Of the counties. and that the game war
dens provided for were for the express
I, purpose Of seeing that the laws of tho
different counties were enforced. Mr.
Robertson explained that the bill was not
introduced for any selfish purpose, but
simply for the love of the birds. He
hoped that no amendments to cripple the
, bill would be passed. One of the coun-
ties desiring to be excepted, Dare, was
permitting the slaughter of sea birds by
a Northern concern.
, Mr.. Robcrson's remarks were APP
: plauded.
The amendments of Mr.. Etheridge and
Mr.. Britain were lost by an overwhclm-
: ing vote.
Mr.. Smith, of Gates, ave notice tina
he would offer an amendment uDon The
; third reading. so that hunters holding IL
. cense cannot hunt upon lands of another
without the owners consent.
General Davidson thought the bill GOV.
cred such cases by not disturbing any
county law.