El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-21
U. S. Will Protect Bids
Deputy MarshaIs VIII Cooperate
With Game Wardens of
Various States.
10y Frederic J. HasEfn
AsHINGTON. b. d. -.

! DlrdS that VIII have an important bear
/ ing upon the much discussed Mclean
| bird protection bill, which was finally
\ included in the bill making the appro-
! priatiOns for the department Of agri-
culture and, as such, approved on
/ March 4 and signed by president Taft
as one of his last official acts. The
bulletin viii be prOfusely illustrated
/ pIcturing wild geese. wild swans, snipe
plover, WOOdcQck, brant wild pigeons
and other migratory and insectfverous
birds " hich henCefOrth are to receive
protection from the federal government
under regulations to be formulated by
the department of agriculture.
Birds Belong to Nations.
Inc Dlll proposed by senator Nc
Lean. Of Connecticut. together with
IhoSe presented to the house by repre-
SentatiYes Weeks. of Massachusetts,
ana Anthony, Of Kansas is based upon
the fact that the lack Of uniform bird
protective legislation throughout the
decrease and even the threatened eX-
llncJlOn OF many species of birds that
make migratory passages north and
south each year IT is of no use for one
state to pass protective laws so long
as IN another state, possibly even dur
ing the mating and Matching season,
bird.
The passing of a federal law upon
TINS subject was opposed by many who
consider it an infringement upon
states rights to give the federal gov
eminent Jurisdiction over a matter
which. some claim. should rest entirely
win the Individual states a number
OF decisions OF different courts are to
the effect that the migratory and wild
game birds belong to the whole ma
ton and not TO the citizens Of any state
through which they may chance to pass,
and it is these decisions which consti-
tute the recognized authority for the
new bill.
Deputies to Enforce Law.
g n hi fe-
10 De brought about by the appoint
ment of deputy United States marshaIs ;
10 90 the work Already hundreds of
thousands Of dollars are being paid out
by the different states for the support
OF their game WaTdens and the federal
marshal could go with them and CO.
game interests OF the country The
sum Of $4,000 has been appropriated
as a beginning for this new protective !
work
Canada Joins in Work.
canada is Joining with this nation
IN the endeavor to secure protection /.
Tor migratory birds since many of the /
pros which add TO the resources of ]
that country come to the southern I
states for the winter and their slaugh- I
ter during migratiOns materially has /.
affected the Canadian bird supply 1t .
IS believed that the passage of the 4
Mclean bill will be only the fOrerun- /
ner OF a movement to secure interna-
tonal protection for all migratory I
brought the matter forward by his
resolution authorizing the president OF /
the United States Ito propose TO the
governments of other North American !
countries the negotiation Of a cOnven-
ton for the mutual protection and
preservation of migratory BIRDS and
IT IS hoped that the movement soon will ;
extend 50 as TO include both Central .
and South America
Birds Protect Crops.
From a practical as well as an
nrrr1 No
protection OF birds is important for I
the benefit of the nation Most DeOule
nave no idea Of the protection birds
give 10 the crops Of the country. There I
IS an annual loss of 100000. 900 i'm the
united States from pestiferous insects. /
and this loss has been steadily increas- |
rs IN proportion to the decrease Of the
DlTuS, most or which feed upon them. J
The United States biological survey
idS hau the stomachS of more than
57OO birds examined. Thirty grass
noppers and 250 caterpHlars were
found in the stomach of a cuckoo In
Jnat OF a nighthawk were found so
s5dI5asshoppers and in another more than
were found in the crop of a cedar
bird.
According to careful estimates the
insect feeding birds of Massachusetts
asst year consumed over $1,000 bushels
81 insects from May to September 30
ct the damage done by insects to the
Tops Of that state amounted to So
Robins Killed in Seven states.
Thirty species of shore birds eat I
loNious weeds. as well as insects. and
1t least $50 of the insect eating birds
81 the country have been classed as
game in both the northern and south
I'm states Even the robin is being z
liled legally in seven states. In Vir-
slnla petition signed by 100000 school I
Eildren secured the protection of the
'obin in that state by special act of
egislatUre passed last year. In five
tates the blackbird has been a legal
Bird Refugees Increased.
me interest in bird protection has
increased enormously during the past
en- years and the Mclean bill is ODlv
ne Of the measures by which il is be-
ng forwarded The number of bird
efuges IS being increased every year ,
hey now mum Der 81 under federal or I
tate control besides a large number
T private ones. The latest one is 8
larsh island. which lately has been
urchased by Mrs Russell Sage for ]
10000 Marsh island is located about Z :
90 miles southwest OF New Orleans
nd contains about 70. 900 acres of , 7
and. Mrs sage was Interested in this r
roject by Edward a McIlhenney. of .
very Island, Louisiana. who recently n
nited with Charles Willis Ward OF
lichigan, in the gift of a bird refuge ?
{ 10 600 acres to the state of Louisiana E
his is located just west from Marsh o.
iland and Is separated from il BY a
arrow pass IneSe two bird refugees
JuAlU6 50 near Lp8eLner VIII give z p
reeding places to millions of birds
ach year. o
The American Game Protective and | y
rOpagatiOn association has gone Z
lrther. It has established q breeding o.
lrm on small island just off of Cape
cd, in which il has been able to breed ] d
ANY birds OF the species which seemed a
lost in danger Of becoming extinct 1t I n
intended to establish similar breed I .
Il farms in other localities in order / "
rat the depleted bird life of the coun- Y
y may be restored as speedily as pos I d
BILE.
Boy Scouts and Movement .
The growth of the Audubon society n
as been marvellous within the past J
w years and its influence has been | o.
,pecially fortunate among schoolboys. / h
no no longer take a keen pleasure i'm | n
,bbinE bird nests or Strengthening the n
ny creatures with a sling shot The n
oy Scout movement has a strong pro- n
ctiye influence for birds and there e
re many other agencies at work. so N
at il is believed that within the next 90
n years the bird life of the country m
aterially will be increased. Aside n
ON the pleasure to be derived by ma
re lovers from this enforced protec-
on. the department Of agriculture
'edicts most noticeable results in the [ .
titles with insect pests which now
e Waged so vigilantly in all parts OF @
country Tho time has como vr-L.-