The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-25
PROHIBITING IMPORTS
 OF FEATHERS
Abstract of Brief Presented to Ma tionaI Association of Audubon
 Societies.

We ask for an amendment of Sec
 ton 43S of the Tariff Act, to prohibit
 the importation of the feathers of wild
 birds We recommend this on the fol-
 lowing ground:
 l. The demand for plumage of wild
 birds for millinery purposes during the past twenty years has grown to enormous proportions. In the effort to supply the market the woods, fields and sea coasts of the United States have been combed systematically by plume-hunters. Breeding colonies and rookeries in the tropics, from Austra- lia to Venezuela, and the most distant islands in the Pacific ocean, have been devastated by the emissaries of the
 plume trade. The traffic in the United States has caused the practical ex- tinction of some of the most beautiful birds, including egrets, the least tern, and, locally, of several other species. Breeding colonies of certain sea birds have been practically annihilated along the coasts of New Jersey and Vir- ginia- The egrets, formerly found in every state in the Union, with half a dozen exceptions, are now restricted to a comparatively few isolated colo nies in the southern states and few wandering individuals which occasion ally stray northward to visit the haunts where they were formerly abundant.
 9 The value of insectivorous and seed-e eating native birds Is too well known to need detailed exposition in this connection. The economic value Of the egrets and other species of plume birds is not. generally appreci- ated. Recent investigations in Florida by a representative of the National Association of Audubon Societies has shown that herons of several species, during the breeding seasons, are not only important Scavengers, but destroy worms and grasShoppers. We have positive information that fifty snowy egrets consumed no less than 762 grasshoppers and 91 cutworms at one meal; that fifty little blue herons de stroyed 1, 300 grasshoppers, 149 cutworms and 142 crayf1sh, and 50 Louisiana her ons~ consumed no less than 2,876 grass hoppers. The stomach of one Louisiana heron was found to contain 2O0 grass hoppers. All of these herons eat many water snakes, which are destructive to fish.
 kill field mice and are, therefore, of pronounced economic value to the az ricultural interests of the country, as shown in Bulletin No. B of the Bio logical Survey of the United States Department of Agriculture.
 g. Illegal Trafhc.-The trade in plumage of native birds is now illegal in a, number of the states, including Massachusetts, New York, New ter sey, Ohio, Vermont, Michigan, Penn sylvania. Missouri, Colorado, Califor- mia. Oregon and Washington. The trade in plumage of native birds is thus prohibited in such important mil linery centers as Boston, New York, New Orleans, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Philadelphia, St. Louis. Kan sas City, Denver. Los Angeles, San Francisco. Portland and Seattle. The Federal Law (25 Stat. 113O already prohibits interstate commerce in plum age shipped in violation of local laws. The United States should not permit the importation of goods which are portation should be prohibited, as has already been done in the case of lot tery tickets, opium, sealskins illegally captured, etc.
 4. The death knen of any species Of wild life is sounded when mankind begins to commercialize it. A num- Der of species of North American birds ere today on the verge of extinction because of the activities of the col iectors working in the interests of the worlds great millinery establishments.
 The agents of the National Associa- ton of Audubon Societies have been abIe to locate in recent years about thirty colonies of egrets in our south ern swamps In the summer of 1912 these few remaining rookeries con 
 of about 5000 egrets. As long as we permit the importation of aigrettes, we have but little assurance for saw ing the remnant of the egrets still found in this country. as it is impos- siT5le to distinguish in the manfac- +ured product the feathers of these birds taken in different countries.
 5 Revenue-The actual revenue de- rived from the importation of plumage Gncluding aigrettcs for millinery pur- posee) Is unknown, for the reason that no separate record Is kept Of the inn portation of plumage for millinery pur- poses and feathers and downs used for pillows, quilts and other purposes. In the case of aigrettes, probably 90 per cent. of the goods are imported in the crude state at the low rate of duty based on appraisal at port of shipment. If figures were available, 1t is doubtful whether the appraised value of most aigrettes would exceed Sl5 or S2O per ounce, allowing a rev enue of $3 or $4 per ounce. Assuming that the importations for any one year amounted to half a ton, 1000 pounds. the duty at $a an ounce would