The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-03

ly birds Of the same species from outside
the state can In Massachusetts still be
sold, a lOop-hole which the Boston COM
mission merchants have always retained.
The exemption is regrettable because of
the difficulty In Identifying game taken
outside of the state. New York should
have added quail to its list, as the New
England states have done.
Another important step in game legis
lation is the increase in nonresident IL
censes, notably in Maine, and New Hamp
shire which affects the sportsmen. of Bos-
ton, and Of Virginia, which just at present
Is giving some concern in the national
capital. Everybody who now goes into
Maine to hunt deer or moose must pay a
license of SIS. Theoretically this should
cut off the shooting somewhat. New
Brunswick has for some time charged
$50 and Ontario and Quebec have charged
$25. The big game hunter in Maine must
also hire a guide, who In turn is licensed
by the state. .-
The object Of these licenses is to pro-
vide funds for the adequate policing Of
the north woods. Maine Is said to make
more from her fishing and hunting than
any other state In the union, and in turn
she expends large amounts In protecting
the privilege. 1t is an exceedingly expen-
sive matter to patrol her great northern
forests and see that game laws are en-
forced. State appropriations for this pur-
be increased by this, new license system.
Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Tennessee Gin a
modified fornl) Virginia and North Caro-
lima have also adopted similar license laws
for big game hunters. Virginia requires
a license for any shooting whatever; 1t
must be taken out from the county clerk
at a cost ofT$10. The state establishes a
warden service at the same time.
Songsters and Plume Birds
Increased protection has also been given
by law to birds other than game, like the
songsters and the plume birds. Massa-
chusetts for several years has tried to
protect them but her statutes aiming to
do so were found not broad enough. Mas
sachusetts is one OF the few states winch
has special law against wearing feathers
In millinery, a provision now enacted for
a third time, In order to get 1T on SOUND
constitutional basis. Whoever has in pos
session the body or feathers Of bird pro-
tected by this law, whether taken in Mas
sachusetts or elsewhere, or who wears
such a body or feathers for purposes of
adornment, is liable to a fine Of SO. This
Is one of the few laws in existence against
wearing feathers. Massachusetts has for
years protected herons and marsh birds,
but has this last year enacted a new law
for the protection Of certain specified
marsh birds, such as the bittern. The
aigrettes Of the heron, largely used in
millinery, are also protected.
Perhaps the most important advance,
viewing the country as a whole, has been
brought about the action of the wholesale
milliners of New York and Chicago. In
their trade organizatio including prac-
tically all the millinery merchants Of the
| country, they have entered into an agree
ment with the Audubon society of New
York and Of certain other states not to
sell these protected native birds, song
birds and game birds, and not to i'm
port or manufacture certain foreign birds,
such gulls. grebes, humming birds, for
| a period of three years, beginning Jan. !.
Aigrettes are included. These may all be
sold until New Year, in order that present
stocks may be reduced. This agreement
ments Of recent years. The Western Job
bers' association of Chicago has taken a
| similar stand, as have most of the millin-
cry houses OF the Pacific coast.
Modifying Fashions Dictates.
The effect of this action of the MILL
merry trade in the big centers will surely
extend thruout the country, since impor-
| tatiOns in most cases come thru the New
York and Chicago wholesalers. Depart
ment experts believe that the result will
be to eliminate native North American
birds from the better class millinery trade
and consequently to make the wearing Of
them questionable. Some concerns will
always try to make a penny by evadina
the law; but in a matter so largely regu-
lated by the dictates Of fashion, such q
course would have little effect Whoever
sees these feathers on new hat in 1900
will know, the department people say, thai
the hat was not bought thru a first GLASS
house.
Our native birds would soon have beer
decimated at the rate at which they have
been going for the last ten years, an6
some species would have before long beer
rendered extinct. Their increase, unde,
the present protection, will naturally be
SLOW even tho the tendency isa hencefortt
in the right direction. Wherever breed
ing colonies are protected, it is usually
possible to see a decided increase in the
number of desirable birds.
The present encouragement, in review
comes from three steps. State laws have