The Detroit times., 1910-12-29

| ing legislation can -
be put through within the next six
months this bin will 20 into effect
| July /. After that date II will be un-
| lawful for any firm in the state or
| New York Ito have on sale any part
OF the skin. head. wing or any plum
age or gull. eagle. tern, vulture, al
batross or any plume-bearing heron.
| The passing of the American water
| fowl is subject that is receiving
much attention. Many organizations
are uniting to secure protection FOR
| these birds. Owing TO the craze for
| feathered millinery, the greed OF hunt
| ers. and several other causes, num-
| Der of varieties of American water
! birds have become almost extinct.
! Others are decreasing SO rapidly that
| strict legislation and vigilance in Its
enforcement is necessary II they are
to be preserved for the benefit OF the
future. Besides the demands OF the
milliners and sportsmen, the loss OF
life To water birds from the effects OF
navigation and various industries
must be considered Oil polluted
waters are poisonous to bird life and
as they are driven back from their
native haunts they cannot but de
crease in numbers unless some new
provision is made for them
The most noteworthy example OF
| the American water bird TO become
entirely extinct is that OF the great
aux, formerly found along the coast
! from Labrador TO northern New Jer-
sey. This bird was about the size OF
| goose and was conspicuous for its
! short wings. used IA paddles for swim
ming. and for its close, rich plumage.
The last record OF these birds was on
! an island off the coast or Maine in
| lS47 when some fishermen slaught'
cred large flock Now that they are
no longer in existence. naturalists are
realizing their value and a single skin
! II an aux was recently sold at an
ornithological sale in London for $500
! There are only about 40 specimens in
existence, including those in museums
and private ownership.
The fact that other American birds
are likely 10 share the same fate has
aroused the interest OF the American
public to the need of measures Tor
their protection. The tern and the
laughing gull used TO be very mum
erous along the Atlantic coast Now
they are so reduced in numbers that
there is said 10 be only small spot
along the New Jersey coast where
they breed Through the efforts o;
the New Jersey Audubon society. har
bors and breeding places Tor these
birds have been provided. The school
children OF the state have raised $500
for the preservation oil Marsh island
as "A home for them. The feathers OF
these birds have been greatly In de-
mand for millinery purposes. The
tern has been especially in favor since
the early eighties and hunters have
been continually in its quest until
now its former haunts are almost en-
tirely depleted.
At one time the white egret heron
was the most prolific breeder along
the coast OF Florida, and the Other
gulf states. 1t is now difficult to fine
group of heron in Florida, outsid,
of the Everglade swamp, and th'
greed Of the hunter has extended ever
here. To furnish the milliners VIII
the white egrets SO much in demand
during the last few years, these beau
tiful birds have been slaughtered b!
; the million. The most grievous sid'
, OF this great sacrifice is that the eyre
is at its most perfect stage just a
breeding time. Therefore the KILN:
OF the parent birds means the Starva
ton of the young.
| The lust of the hunter for game II
rapidly decreasing the number OF viii,
ducks. The modern Improvements IL
hunting apparatus have rendered /
possible each year to kill birds Will
less difficulty. So rapidly has thi!
decrease been recognized during th'
past ten years that it is stated upor
good authority that IL allowed to con
tinue unchecked, the American wild
duck will be known to the future stu
dent of the next generation only
through the pages OF natural history
American wild ducks are divided Into
two classes known as divers and non
divers. Divers have TO go TO the bot
tom of the water for food and are
more apt to come within the range OF
the hunter through the allurement OF
the decoy. Canvasbacks, red-heads
blue bills and bay widgeons are
among the best known OF the diving
ducks. The non-divers include the
mallards. the black and gray ducks
and several others.
Last month 5000 wild ducks were
reported to have been shipped from
GEORGETOWN, South Carolina, in one
day. While this was an unprecedent
ed record never likely TO be duplicat'
ed. II Is an evidence OF the rapidity
with which the American water fowl
is being slaughtered. Recognizing
also the loss to the world in their sx
tinction. the sportsmen themselves
are urging the passing OF hunting
laws and their proper enforcement
legislation upon this subject is now
pending in almost every state In the
union.
The national government also has
taken up the matter through several
departments and is endeavoring "a
proyide every possible protection to
birds. Bird harbors and breeding
places have been established by eXecu-
tive orders. the first OF those being
along the coast of Alaska and on some
islands near Hawaii. Within the past
wear the United States revenue cut.
fer "Thetis' was sent to the Islands
near Hawaii for the purpose of break
ing up reported depredations by for
eign plumage hunters. These were
discovered on Laysan an dLissiansky