The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
PESTS BROUGHT HERE
UNDER FALSE COL0RS

Il IS reported that the white moth. par
ent Of the disgusting measuring worm,
IS again IN the land, and the chance is
therefore given for the noisy English
sparrow TO prove his right 20 exist L
was because he was considered particu-
larry expert in catching and eating the
moths that he was invited TO cone over
the water. It Is probably forgotten that
10 Washington City these little bunches
Of trouble first were brought. Three cou-
pies were imported. and Il said that the
government paid so for the importation.
Many times that amount has been ex-
pended In trying 20 rid the country at
large for what has been proven the most
active factor IN the destruction OF the
singing birds Of America, for the pugna-
cioUs little sparrows have plenty OF cour-
age. and Will fight 10 the death any bird
which offends its insular prejudices. Some
years ago q movement of determination
Of the English sparrow was on foot in
Utah. and a bounty OF a nickel a scalp
was really paid for each dead bird: the
boy with the slingsAot had the time of
his life and became a might hunter. and.
from his viewpoint. a rich man, too. The
State was soon cleared Of the birds, who
were said 70 sail under false colors,
seeing that they DO not eat worms Of
any kind
There may be local responsibility IN
the matter OF the English sparrow, but
| certainly Wsshington's blunder IN the
matter Is small compared 70 the mistake
Of the Importation OF the jackrabbit.
These prolific animals were such a pest
that rabbit drives were almost the order
OF the day in Southern California. AT one
time the poor animals. whose chief fault
the ranches in the way OF green stun,
were rounded up by beating the under
growth in ever narrowing circles, whole
neighborhoods OF men and boys taking
part, and then when corralled the drivers
beat the jacks 10 death with Bats ana
clubs IL was a sickening method, but
considered the only way. "One mans
meat IS another mans poison" Is stiIl
true. A Texas man with the assistance
OF fifteen helpers has killed 234,Q24 prairie
dogs this year and received the sum OF
about $500 FOR the seven months work,
II the figures are correctly copied.
These figures would hll with envy the
breasts OF any OF the boys Of the old
ship Of the line Columbia who s;iu live
II they remember the days when they
were made 10 catch reaches by hand as
part Of their daily duty 10 Uncle sam.
The old wooden ship had become infested
with small but troublesome insect. and
for the destruction of these reaches were
given the run OF the ship. When the
warm waters OF the Golden Gate were
reached. for the ship took active part in
the events OF ISIS. these animals. as the
boys called them, grew large and numer-
GUS The ship might conquer the enemy
on shore, but there was an enemy aboard
that made life very unpleasant
A brilliant plan occurred 10 one OF the
officers. which was 20 throw the respons-
ibility Of the destruction Of these reaches
on the youngsters Of the crew They
were not 10 receive reward for their
valor. as IN the case CT the salt Lake
youngsters. but TO be punished II a GER
tain number Of victims were not brought
FOR inspection each day. for this was IN
the line Of duty il IS 20 be hoped thar
that assurance idealized the fob for the
little hunters. So good was the discipline,
or so vaiorOus the punishment for lazl-
ness IN the hunt, the pests were rapidly
cleared of. and IL became q dificuit mat
ter 70 keep up the number required as
days killing, so the boys gravely laid
the matter before the officer. and he re-
duced the number required; as the supply
OF game became further exhausted
again the number required was lowered,
and one day glad II was declared that
the ship was clear az last, for the officer
had caught the boys In the act Of recOv-
ering the bodies Of dead reaches from the
lower deck. where they had been thrown
under pretense OF tossing them into the
sea, for the boys could not find any more
to kill. and feared TO appear empty
handed.