Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-02-27
KILL BUzZAIsDS TO WIN WAR,
Menace to stock Raiscrs-Why Anti
BuZZird Law Was Passed.

The anti-buzzard law, enacted by
the General Assembly at it's recent
session, was introduced purely at the
request Of the law and legislation
committee Of the Chamber Of Com
mercc, says the Charleston Post.
The committee Investigated the
subject very thoroughly, obtained cx-
pert opinions, decided that the buz-
Zard was decidedly menace to sue
cCssful Stock-raiSing in South Caro-
lima. and asked the Charleston dele
cation to introduce Il measure which
would exempt the buzzard from the
the law making it 4 criminal offcnse
to kill, wound, or capture any wild
bird other than a game bird. The
Chamber OF Commerce is glad that
the measure was passed and feels
that it has been instrumental in re-
moving one Of the chief nuisances
to successful hog raising.
Needless to say, before taking any
definite steps, the chambers commit
tee got opinions from leading au-
thorities on the subject, including the
Bureau Of Animal Industry Of the
United States Department Of Agricul-
turc at Washington and the State
Veterinarian Of South Carolina at
Clemson College. DR.. w. A. Bar
nettc. assistant State Veterinarian,
wrote the following lettcr.to the act
ing secretary Of the committee:
81 have your letter Of the first (Oc-
tobcr), asking for a statement from
me as to whether Il buzzard is
an animal disease carrier, especially
hog cholera. This office has always
regarded the buzzard as a menace to
the livestock industry, especially cat
tie and hogs. 1t is an easy matter
for the buzzard to carry the germs Of
sympomatic anthrax, hemorrhagic
septicemia and hog cholera on it's
body and feet, each Of these diseases
being detriment to the livestock in
dustry. While this Is not list Of all
the diseases which the buzzard might
only suggests some Of the more i'm
portant diseases which each year
prove a great loss to the live stock in
dustry Of this State. The veterinary
division will heartily endorse any
movement which can be taken to-
ward extcrminating the buzzard." :,
1t is within the personal knowl-
edge Of the writer that the veterina-
ry division Of Clemson College has
for several years sought to eXtermi-
nate the buZzard from South Carolina
and has made at least one attempt to
have the Legislature enact just such
a measure as 1t has now enacted. The
writer remembers hearing DR.. NJ. Ray
Powers, former State Veterinarian
say repeatedly that the buzzard caus-
ed large proportion Of the hog chOl-
era in South Carolina, and that this
disease could hardly be fought Will,
comp lete success so long as farmers
were prohibited by law from killing
DuZzards. 1t is certain that DR.. X. O.
Feeley, the present State Veterina-
rian, holds similar views What is
more, it is within the personal knowl-
edge OF the writer that many farm
ers who know the danger OF buzzards
have slaughtered them at every op-
portunity, regardless OF the law. In
addition to spreading disease, buz-
zards are known to prey upon newly
| farrowed pigs and the writer has fire.
quently seen man stationed in a
field with gun to pick off buzzards
and protect some new pigs which
were there. The buZzard not only
carries hog cholera, but is carrier
Of 1.-The deadly anthrax, one of the
most dreaded and dreadful of dis
eases. The view Of the chamber OF
commerce is that farmers should be
appriscd Of the change in the law and
should be encouraged to kill Off the
buzZards as rapidly as possible. Es.
pecially at the present time does il
seem to be a patriotic duty to take
every step which will facilitate the
greater production Of live stock.
state Fair in October.