El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-30

OF hunting laws and their proper en-
forcement- Legislation upon this sub
ject 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 TO pro-
vide every possible protection to birds
Bird harbors and breeding places have
been established by executive orders,
the first of these being along the coast
or Alaska and on some islands near
Hawaii. Within the past year. the
United States revenue cutter "Thetis"
was sent to the islands near Hawaii
for the purpose of breaking up depre-
dationS by foreign pIumage hunters.
These were discovered on Laysan and
Lissiansky Islands Twenty-three Jap
anese were arrested there and S112-
40 worth of plumage confiscated The
japanese poachers were disposed to
fight at first but were quickly over
come and were severely dealt with as
to make them an example likely to
hinder further depreda lions of the
kind.
Establish Breeding Reservations
BY special execute, order so breed
ing reservations have been made on
public lands controlled by the United
States These are under the direction
of the department of agriculture which
cooperates with the National audubon
society for the protection and preser-
vation of birds. Most of the bird
reservations are along the Pacific and
Gulf coasts, although there are in
land reservations in Dakota, in Michi-
gan. 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 off Florida, which is
the home of the snowy heron; the Bat
tledore islands off the coast of Louisi
ana, where the royal tern is lodged:
and group of small. salt grass islets
or shoals known as the Mosquito is1ets
along the Gulf coast. The Auduban
society provides seven steam launches
which are always in service for the
inspection of these and other bird
reservations. They also pay officers or
game wardens to look after the inter
ests of birds in different localities and
see that all laws are properly en-
forced.
Game Warden's Work Risky.
The position of game warden in the
southern states has proved a danger
Gus one, no less than three men hay
Ing been brutally murdered within the
last two years during the perform
ance of their duty The vigilance OF
these officers has now entirely stamp
ed out every large industry in plumes
and feathers, but there are numberless
private individuals determined to make
a 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 in the Audubon society boat at
Placido, Fla, and no further trouble
has been reported.
With special vigilance on the part
OF the Audubon society. additional leg
islation regarding hunting regulators.
most OF which are receiving the en-
dorsements Of the hunters themselves,
together with the numerous bird har-
bors now established in various parts
OF the country, it is hoped that the
greatest danger of the passing of the
American water fowl may be in a
measure under control The depreda-
lions have been so serious during the
past 10 years, however, that If will
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 a number of species so
will be found at large in their native
homes.
The value of the water birc- as
scavenger and a sanitary officer has
only recently been brought before the