Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-01-04
TO WAR ON BIRDS.


Milliners and Market Men After
Feathered Spoils.
NEW YORK, Dec. 31-Declaring that the
new year OF 1911 is to mark the Aercest
struggle in recent years to save American
bird life from its human enemies, omcers
Of the National Association Of Audubon
Societies are to-day perfecting plans here
to combat the commercial interests that
are plotting to break down protective laws
in many OF the Legislatures OF forty states.
Men and money are to be used without
limit BY powerful groups Of milliners and
market supply men to rob their feathered
prey Of the scant legal protection that has
been given them, according to advices
that are being received from all over the
country. Unless sportsmen, farmers and
bird-lovers rally against this well-organ-
lied force Of bird butchers, It ID predicted,
incalculable harm will b done in depict
ing the nations game birds - well ~
the 6ocks Of insect-eatery that protect the
crops from pests.
In states where spring shooting laws
now save migratory iocks from slaughter
ct the hands Of professional pot hunters,
the men who stock the market are re-
ported to be determined to work the repeal
Of these statutes that were made to shield
the breeding birds. Already the game
dealers, whose army Of spring shooters
out Long Island almost drove to extinc-
tion the ducks that few north along the
eastern coast, are known to be plotting
the death OF the law that checked their
activities.
In Massachusetts, and many other states
similar license to raid the resources OF
game birds Is to be sought. For the
benefit Of the palates Of wealthy epicures,
all laws restricting the storage and sale Of
game are to be attacked BY the market
interests, the Audubon officials have been
informed.
Most powerful of all the monied inter-
ests to war on the welfare of the nations
birds, the milliners are to-day known to
be organizing campaign to break down
laws to protect the wild flocks that they
formerly butchered for their plumage.
Since . ban was put upon their trafac in
sigrettes and the plumAge Of useful wild
birds in New York state last year, 1t il
acknowledged that the sales Of these
trophies Of Wholesale bird butchery have
been cut down to > quarter OF their former
volume. To lay hands once more upon
the mother heron and the birds that guard
the country's crops, it is said the feather
dealers are ready to expend . vast amount
Of effort and money.
Calling upon the farmers, sportsmen,
orchardists, planters and ranchmen OF the
whole country to take the part of the
birds that save their fields and forests
from destruction by insect pests, the Ma
tional Association of Audubon Societies
is to-day preparing to meet the CONNER
cial bird-killers before every Legislature
in the land. Special funds are being
raised to send pathological experts to
bird protective laws in many states. Or
CARNATIONS Of sportsmen, ~ well a. bird
lovers throughout the country, are already
Offering active cooperation in this cam
paign.
1.-THE birds OF America never needed the
help Of everyone interested in them for
economic or sentimental reasons more
than they do this year." said T. Gilbert
Pearson, secretary of the National Asso-
citation of Audubon Societies at its head
quarters, 11 Broadway, to-day. 1.-THE
monied interests that fatten on bird
slaughter are alive to their opportunities
to shake on the legal restrictions that
have been put upon their greed. We are
also alive to the emergency, and with the
support Of the people will fight to the last
ditch for American bird life."