Valdez daily prospector., 1914-06-17
Government Sounds Warning
 to Amateur Scientists.
LAW ON IMPORTING INSECTS

The seizure by the New York cus- toms authorities of the village of mead Ow ants which Mrs. Charles W. Morse wished to bring with her from Eu- rope is only an episode in the perpet- ual war waged against undesirable i'm | migrants, human. animal and vegeta- ble Mrs. Morse's village. like the one which reached Philadelphia about a fortnight before, was probably by- product of the increased interest in na- ture study, but the United States gov ,, arnment not only discourages such aids to amateur research. but absolutely prohibits them. By law passed in 1905 the importation of living insects into this country is forbidden, and there are other laws which regulate so strictly the importation of larger ani- mals that in many cases no discretion Is left to the authorities.
 Nevertheless tourists and amateur scientists are continually endeavoring to introduce additions to the flora and fauna of the United States which the United States is happy to be without. It Is estimated that fully one-half of the pests that aff1ict farmers and stock have been imported from abroad. The classic instance of misguided enthusiasm is the introduction in 1869 of the destructive gypsy moth by scientist named Trouvelot. Trouve- lot, an astronomer at Harvard. devot- ed much of his leisure time to the con- sideration of the silk worm industry. In an evil hour he conceived the idea of breeding hardier worm which might withstand the diseases which were then ravaging rearing establish ments in France and imported some gypsy moths, intending to cross them with some of the native species found however, that he left the window of his study at Medford, Mass, open one day. When he returned mass of eggs laid by the gypsy visitors had disappeared. Apparently it had blown out of the open window The moths are still with us and have cost the country millions of dollars.
 Automobile an Ally of the Moth. Strangely enough. the automobile has proved an ally of the moth. Not only does it stir ID currents of air which scatter the fallen and infected foliage, but it actually carries insects many miles into districts which have hither to been immune. and on one occasion some years ago there is every reason | to believe that deliberate attempt was made to spread the pest. Eggs said to have been found in California were sent to the department of agri- culture for examination. and. for a time it seemed certain that in some unaccountable way the pest had trav- eled across the entire continent. h. vestigation revealed the fact. however. that the man who forwarded the eggs had previously been employed in fight ing the moth in Massachusetts. Upon the arrival of scientist attached to the department he left his home and remained without address until the in- vestigator had departed. There were no further reports ot the gypsy moth in California.
 Some enterprising travellers have at various. times attempted to bring in as curiosity the Australian flying fox. Unknown in this country, this over grown bat, which at It's largest meas ures more, than five feet across the tips of its wings, is one of the great pests of Australia. It's nightly raids in search of food cover considerable distances. It is most partial to figs. bananas. peaches and other soft fruit. The mongoose is another creature which individuals persist in bringing uninvited to American shores. In l America he is a nuisance. When no snakes are available to appease his ap- petite he does not scorn chickens. young pigs. kids, lambs, puppies, kit tens. vegetables and fruits.
 Australian Rabbit Has Cost Millions. Still another instance of the ease with which experiments of this kind run away with the experimenters is the Australian rabbit.
 Millions of dollars" says a report of the department of agriculture. "have been spent for bounties. poisons and various other methods of destruc- ton; thousands. of miles of rabbit proof fences have been built. and hun dreds bf schemes for destroying the animals have been suggested. but noth- ing has yet been found that will exter-
 minate the pest"
 The San Jose, scale was brought into this country from its original home in a remote region of China by an ardent
 horticulturist. The English sparrow. like the mongoose. is an instance of an anticipated blessing that turned into curse. r.
 In the case of large animals 1t Is not their own increase which is feared.
 but that of the diseases and parasites that they bring with them. Recently.
 for example. six llamas were shipped I A =