Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1908-06-19
AFTER BIRD BUTCHERS.

New York, June g.. That whole
regions of the Florida everglades have
within the last three years been
robbed of every vestige Of bird life
to supply the worlds millinery market
with the plumes Of the heron that for
merry bred there in countless num-
bers was reported here to-day. From
several ornithologists, who have just
completed a survey Of this section,
reports have been sent to the head
quarters Of the National Association
OF Audubon Societies. declaring that
where America was most rich in trop-
| ical races of birds it is totally barren
| to-day. At this rate OF devastation. it
/ is asserted, the plume hunters will
leave this country entirely stripped of
ell its birds Of plumage within five
years.
10 baik the worldwide activities Of
the professional plume hunters, whose
forces have reached and despoiled
Americas rarest resorts, England is
already taking firm steps. From end
TO end the British empire has heen
raVaged as Florida has by the market
feather seekers. A bill similar to the
"model law" which the Audubon
workers have succeeded in leading al
most very state. in this country 70
| adopt, is today being pressed by Lord
| A7ebury in the house Of lords, for the
| prohibition Of the importation of the
| plumage, skin or body of all wild
/ birds except ostriches, elder ducks
and birds used as articles of diet.
Acting upon the startling reports
/ from Florida the Audubon officials
declared to-day that laws against tire
sale of the trophies of this butchery,
irrespective of where they were taken,
would be urged throughout this
country Although the English bill
is even more sweeping than the
Audubon "model law" mere, it is be.
( lieved that with proper enforcement
the latter may serve TO stay the en-
/ oroaGhment of the international com
mercial bird slaughter. Eventually
il IS the purpose of the association tt
/ perfect an International organization
to check this securing OF the globe
/ for the adornment of the nations at
/ the expense of their bird life.
! 'Ihe aesthetic reasons for check
ing this universal butchery of all
birds who bear the fatal charm OF
| beauty are secondary;" said william
butcher, president of the nationa
association Of Audubon societies a
| its headquarters, al Broad way, today.
1.-The primary reasons are strict y
economic. these birds, entirely
aside from their wonderful delights
as objects of beauty, form the basis
! OF our nations health as we'll as
! prosperity. What the street cleaning
( department is to this metropolis the
sea birds are to the whole country.
I AS their activities as scavengers are
checked by unnatural destruction,
pestilence and death will surely fol
low The birds stand at the founda-
tion of all our natural resources and
our very existence as we'll. To take
up this fight against the moniod
interests that are killing oul
4 oountry's birds we need the individual
suppoit-moral and financial of every
man, woman and child in the country.
1t is reported that we have been en-.
! dowed with million dollars; but
} this is untrue, as we depend solely
upon the interest of less than a third
of this sum, aud the annual i've
dollar bills of our sustaining mem,
bors. Many millions are behind ouI
opponents, the business bird butchers.