The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-04-02
WORK OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES.
Legislatures of the Various States
Persuaded to Enact Laws for
Bird Protection.

Save the birds" is the burden of
pamphlet just issued by the national
committee of Audubon societies 1t is
the report of the American Ornitholo-
gists' union committee, of which Will
liam butcher is the chairman, and be-
sides the appeal to the public to pro-
tect the feathered tribe and for funds
to carry on the good work, it contains
many interesting facts. About 20
years ago George b. Bennett first called
the attention of orithologists to the
rapid disappearance of birds, owing
to their use as millinery ornaments,
and as result of his warning an or
ganization was formed, and out of this
grew other socities and committees,
having the same object in view, until
now there are 81 state Audubon socie-
ties. Through the agency of these
societies and the workers connected
with them the slaughter of native birds
has been diminished to great extent.
They have worked with the various
state legislatures, until now more than
40 per cent. of the, states have uni
form law, which gives protection to
the birds which do not come under the
head of game" as far as law can pro-
tect them, reports the New York Tri-
bune.
Mr.. butcher, in speaking of the
people who at personal sacrifice ''of
time, strength and labor" have stood
between the birds and the people who
tried to eXterminate them, says:
They have by hard work begun to
create a healthy growth. They have
employed wardens at various places
along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to
actually watch over and protect the
sea birds during the time that they
are engaged in nesting. 1t is at this
period, when the birds in the south are
in their best plumage and are in
colonies, and when the paternal in
Stinct renders them fearless and re-
CARELESS of danger, that the plume
hunter does his deadliest work.
AS to the value of the birds to tho
farmer, it is of interest to note the
following statistics: According to
the census of 1900, there were in the
United States 5,739,657 farms with
total acreage of Sal, 201,5 $40. The value
of these lands was placed at $20,514,-
OO1,SS3. The product for the farmer
and fruit grower was $7,739, 1889. 1t
is said by persons who have made the
matter a study that insects and ro-
dents destroy products annually to the
value of about 5000, 900, even with
the birds as protectors, and this
amount would be vastly larger if the
birds were destroyed.
THE birds are rapidly decreasing in
number" says Mr.. butcher, land I'M
less the large and most vitality inter-
ested class of the population, the agri-
culturists, awaken to the gravity of
the situation and absolutely demand
that no more beneficial birds be killed
for any purpose whatever, they will
soon feel the result in an increasing
annual loss in actual dollars and cents.
difference of 1 per cent. in the value
of the farm products in the United
States each year amounts to the enor-
nous sum of SAT, 1891, 1S7."
Birds are killed, according to the re.
port, by human agencies for three pur-
poses-food, wantonly and for milli-
merry ornaments. Comparatively few
are killed for food, but thousands Of
birds are destroyed by wing shots ''for
practice" and in matches, and many
more thousands are killed for the mil
linery trade. On the latter head Mr..
butcher says:
"There is no excuse for shooting the
third class of birds, as their value an
millinery ornaments is far less than
their value as insect destroyers. Be-
sides this, contrast the difference in
the money value of the two interests
that are opposed to each other. By
the census of 1900 we find that the total
capital invested in the millinery and
lace trade was $37, 970,O56, and the value
of the manufactured goods in 1899 was
$97 $50, 496. Place the two interests
side by side, $4,000, 100000 as against
$3s, 900, 900! Again, an annual product
of 81, 739, 100000 against $9S.000,000! l
ask, and wish that l could shout my
question in a voice so loud and clear
that every man, woman and child in
this broad land of ours could hear it:
Have the milliners, with their paltry
interests, any right to jeopardize the
safety of the agricultural interests?"