Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-03-12
TO BAR BIkD BUTCHERY.
Harmless Herons Aid Farmer and
Women Working.

Harmless Herons Aid Farmer and
Women Working.
Thousands OF letters, kilograms and per-
sonal appeals to save the aigrette- bearing
herons from extinction by prohibiting the
importation OF their bloody scalps have
been sent to the ways and means COM
mittee OF Congress from the farmers.
sportsmen and club women Of every sec
tion OF the country, according to reports
received at the headquarters OF the National
association OF Audubon societies in New
York.
Following the hearing on the feather
schedule OF the tariff at Washington,
torty-five state game commissioners
throughout the continent have begun to
add to the plea Of the Audubon workers
their influence in urging Congress to bar
from the country the feathers plucked
from butchered mother birds, traffic in
which has already been made illegal in
many states.
In briefs submitted by ornitholopicai
experts to the ways and means committee
at Washington, it is shown on behalf of
the agricultural and fishing interests of
the whole country that the herons which
have been massacred for their plumes al
most to the point OF extinction. are of
great economic value in destroying farm
pests and natural enemies OF trout and
other valuable fish.
| In 200 meals of birds of these
species, 1t is proved by scientific investi-
CATION that 5,5Ss grasshoppers, 257 cut
worms, AID crayfish and sixty-one suckers
were consumed, as well as 361 water
moccasins and other snakes which are
known to destroy young fish. 1t is also
demonstrated by these documents that the
world WIDE war OF extinction now con-
Quoted by the feather dealers against the
| birds who bear aigrettes while brooding
is characterized by barbarous cruelty. and
that the loss OF tariff revenue on such
trophies OF bird slaughter could readily
be made up from other sources.
| That traffic in egret scalps would he
absolutely stopped by prohibiting their
importation, has been admitted before
the ways and means committee of Con-
| gress by a representative OF the commercial
interests that are fighting at Washington
TO continue the International traffic in
aigrettes that employs armies OF bird
butchers 10 scour the globe for the plumes
| 49, A-ieA ANASa AiotuCE DlTQS whose
| young are left to starve.
! With more than 100000 Audubon work.
ers arrayed with the farmers, sportsmep.
club women and nature lovers of every
section OF the land against these few
ieather dealers, it is hoped that Congress
VIII decide to make the United States lead
the world in recognized the humane and
economic need for shutting out this cruel
4 trade.
II every American man, woman and
child who hates cruelty and loves mai ure
Will write or wire Chairman Underwood
Of the ways and means committee OF Con-
gress, in Washington, to stop heron
butchery by prohibiting the Importation
OF aigrettes, we know we shall win against
the powerful forces of the millinery in
teresfs, says L. Gilbert Pearson, secretary
OF tine National association of Audubon
societies. "We want the women and chill.
dren 20 be heard in defence OF these dumt
bro proofs as well as the farmers, ranch.
men and sportsmen, who are urging upor
TINS congressional committee the greal
! economic need OF their preservation