The Detroit times., 1910-12-29
The Water Fowl Gu b
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN

islands. Twenty-three Japanese were
arrested there and sll2.470 worth or
plumage confiscated. The Japanese
poachers were disposed to night AT
first. but were quickly overcome ana
were SO severely dealt with as to make
them an example likely To hinder fur-
Their depredations of the kind.
by special executive order. nfty
breeding reservations have been made
ON public lands controlled by tho
United States. These are under tho
objection of the department Of agricui-
ture which co-operates with the Ma
tional Audubon society for the protec-
ton and preservation of birds. Most
oi the bird reservations are along the
Pacific and Gulf coasts, although there
are inland reservations in Dakota. in
Michigan. in California and Oregon.
These last are intended for fresh
water birds since land birds do not
breed in large colonies. Among the
southern and Gulf islands devoted TO
bird protection are Pelican island on
Florida. which is the home OF tue
snowy heron: the Battledore islands
OF the coast OF Louisiana, where the
royal tern is lodged; and a group or
small. salt grass islets or shoals known
as the Mosquito islets along the Gulf
coast. The Audubon society provides
seven steam launches which are al
ways in service for the inspection OF
these and other bird reservations.
They also pay officers or game war
dens 10 look after the interests OF
birds in different localities and see
that all laws are properly enforced.
The position OF game warden In the
southern states has proved danger
Gus one. no less than three men having
been brutally murdered within the last
two years during the performance of
their duty The vigilance OF these OF
ficers has now entirely stamped out
every large industry In plumes and
feathers, but there are numberless pri'
vate individuals determined to make
living in this way. At the beginning
OF the crusade the bird warden might
be said almost To have carried his life
in his hand so bitterly was he hated
by the lawleSs class who derived an
income from The slaughter of birds. 1t
is more than year, however. since
George McCleod's bloody hat was
found i'm the Audubon society boat at
Placido. Florida. and no further trou-
BILE has been reported.
Wit hspeCial vigilance on the part
of the Audubon society. additional leg
islation regarding hunting regulations,
most of which are receiving the Ell
dCrsements of the hunters themselves,
together with the numerous bird har-
bors now established in various parts
OF the country, il is hoped that the
greatest danger of the passing OF the
American water fowl may be in a
measure under control. The depreda
/ tons have been so serious during the
past ten years. however. that 1t will
J take many years Of protection to re-
| place them. and there is no question
in the minds Of scientists that despite
all the measures now being taken.
there are still number of species So
nearly extinct that they never again
homes.
The value of the water bird as o
scavenger and a sanitary officer has
only recently been brought before the
public. The charge that the sea cranes
and heron We're responsible for the
disappearance of ifs hfrom parts OF
the Florida coast has been disproved
and the useful offices of the birds fully
established In view OF this fact the
preservation of the water fowl as
sumes practical Importance aside
from its interest to the nature lover
and student.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Research.