Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-28
TIE WATER FOWL CLUB
= = j.
"a By Frederic d. Haskin. -.'

| The Water Fowl Club of America will
hold its annual meeting in New York to-
morrow. 1t is doing much to create a
nationwide interest in the protection of
the water fowls of the country, and to
stimulate national interest in them. 1t
| mad hand in the passage of a bill by
the New York legislatu re. which was APP
proved by Gov. Hughes. regarding the
sale oil bird plumage for millinery pur-
poses Unless some multiplying legislation
can De put through within the next six
months this bill will go into effect July 4.
After that date it will be unlawful for
| any nrm i'm the state of New York Ito
nave on sale any part of the skin, head.
wing or any plumage of a gull, eagle,
tern. vulture. albatross any plume
bearing heron
The passing of: the American water fowl
Els subject that is receiving much at
ttention. Many organizations are uniting
Owing to the craze for feathered millinery.
the greed OF hunters and several other
causes. number OF varieties q. .Ameri-
can water birds have become almost eX-
tfnct. Others are decreasing so rapidly
that strict legislation and vigilance in it's
enforcement is necessary IL they are to be
pre- served 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 naviga tion- and various
industries must be considered. Oil pollut-
ed waters are poisonous to bird life, and
as they are driven back from their native
haunts they connot but decrease i'm num-
bers unless some new provision is made
for them.
The most noteworthy example of the
American water bird to become entirely
extinct is that of
Fate of Great AUX the great aux, for
as an Example. the c ,n"' I fr"m
Labrador to northern New Jersey. This
bird was about the size Of goose and
was conspicuous for it's short wings used
as paddles for swimming and for it's
close, rich plumage. The last record of
these birds was on an island off the coast
of Maine in 1s47. when some fishermen
slaughtered large flock. Now that they
are no longer in existence. naturalists
are realizing their value and a single
skin of an aux was recently sold at an
pathological sale in London for $500.
There are only about forty specimens in
existence. including those in museums
and private ownership.
The fact that other American birds are
likely to share the same fate has aroused
the interest of the American public to
the need or measures for their protection.
The tern and the laughing gull used to be
very numerous along the Atlantic coast.
Now they are so reduced in numbers that
there Is said to be only small spot
along the New Jersey coast where they
breed. Through the efforts of the New
Jersey Audubon Society, harbors and
breeding places for these birds have been
provided. The school children of the
state have raised $500 for the preserva-
ton of Marsh Island as a home for them.
The feathers Of these birds have been
greatly in demand for millinery pur-
poses. The tern has been especially in
favor since the early eighties and hunt |
ers have been continually in its quest UNI
til now it's former haunts are almost en-
tirely depleted
At one time the white egret heron was
the most prolific breeder along the asst |
of Florida and the other gulf states. 1t |
is now difficult to find a group of heron |
in Florida, outside. Of the Evergiade |
swamp, and the greed of the hunter has
extended even here. To furnish the mil
liners with the white egrets so much in
demand during the last few years these |
beautiful birds have been slaughtered by |
the million. The most grievous side of
this great sacrifice Is that the egret is at
its most perfect stage just at breeding |
time. Therefore the killing Of the parent |
bird means the starvation of the young.
The lust Of the hunter for game lis
rapidly decreasing the number Of wild
ducks. The |