The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-06-24
A PUBLIC DUTY.
Appeal for Protection for the Gulls and
Terms OF the American Sea


| Scarcely more than a generation
ago the buffalo ranged the western
plains in countless herds, their num-
bers SO great that no written estimate
can be considered an xaggeration.
| Those who were fortunate enough to
see one Of these great hosts surging
over the prairies little thought shat in
few short years the buffalo would
simply be part OF history. This
noble beast was exterminated by man
with butchery SO ignoble that it is
sickening to dwell upon. The few dol
lars received for the hide was the in
centiye for this national disgrace. AL
most at the same hour that the buff alo
were vanishing another of the wonders
OF this continent was also being ruth
lessly and recklessly destroyed. Early
writer's tell Of focks OF wild pigeons
so large that the account of their NUM-
bers verge On the fabulous. Where
| are these countless winged hosts to-
day9 All gone. Why? Simply that .
| limited number of men without thought
for the future might gather few dol
lars by sacrificing millions upon mil
lions of harmless and beautiful forms.
These two great assets of the people,
of use and beauty, were improvidently
wasted because no philosophical per-
sons or association had the foresight
or interest to protect them from the
small band Of selfish men who were
the destroyers.
The passing OF the buffalo and wild
pigeon is forceful commentary on
the Indifference of the people of those
days. Are the people of this genera
ton showing any greater degree of in
terest in the wild life OF the present
day, much OF which is rapidly decreas-
ing in numbers? Few people realize
how near the gulls and terms of our
coasts came to extinction during the
last decade, when fashion decreed that
the snow-White plumage OF these deni-
zens of the beaches were necessary for
millinery OfndMSlhSs
A simple proposition, in fact pub
lie duty, is now before the American
people: Shall the sea-birds be pre-
served for future gener alton? Unfor-
tunately this class of birds gather in
colonies during the breeding season,
and are thus in greater danger than
the wild bird that breeds singly. Plume
hunters can still kill them as in the
past, when large colonies on our sea-
boards were destroyed in q single
season. Another method of extermi-
lnation is egging; this is quite as fatal
as killing the birds. There are yet
small colonies OF sea- birds on the
coasts and large inland lakes of the
country which will serve as a nucleus
and may by the greatest care and
watchfulness repopulate our country
with these birds. If this desirable re-
suit isxto be achieved, action must be
taken at once by the public; it will
not do to neglect the matter another
4 season or our children will say of us,
i what We now say of our fathers res
garding the buffalo and wild pigeon:
"When you had the opportunity to
save the sea-birds you did not do it
| and we are deprived Of part of our
heritage The birds can only be
saved by placing at each colony dur
| ing the breeding season an energetic,
/ faithful and fearless warden who will
stand guard during the three months
when the birds are brooding their
eggs. The part the public can take in
this great economic and aesthetic move
ment is to supply the necessary funds.
The National Association of Audubon
Societies, an incorporated body, will
do the administrative work.
During the present breeding season
this Association has forty such war
dens employed, but this number should
be increased to at least 800 men in or
der to fully guard all of the remnants
of colonies that once existed. The
public are urged to join the National
Association, the membership fee being
five dollars a year, all Of which sum
is used in protection work, as the
executive officers OF the society con-
tribute their services without compen-
sation.
The seashore without the birds would
be like garden without flowers or a.
landscape without trees. Unless act
i've measures are taken now to prevent
this disaster it will surely come; then
il will be too late to do more than
grieve. This is not a duty you can
delegate to your neighbor; it belongs
to you. Will you help save the sea-
birds, or will you see them vanish?
To your descend ants you are respon-
sible.
WILLIAM butcher,
President n. A. A. S., 525 Manhattan
avenue, New York city.
No Secret About It,
Ii is no secret that for cuts ,aburns, ulcers
fever soEes, sore eyes, bois, etc. nothing is SO