The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1920-11-19
Audubon Society Urges Halt in
Destruction, Due to 50-Cent'
Bounty Law.
BIRDS OF FREEDOM LIBELED
Official Cites Instances Of Mistaken
b Bird Campaign In Asking Suspen-
sion Of Bounty law-12,o00
Killed Since Law Enacted.

New York.--American eagles in
Alaska frequently kill full-grown
deer, and are devastators of sheep and
other live stock, fur-bearing animals,
domestic and wild fowl, salmon and
other food fish, according to Alaskans
who have been writing on the sub
ject to L. Gilbert Pearson, secretary
Of the Audubon Societies National as
ISOLATION.
Mr.. Pearson has been directing from
the New York Offices of the associa-
ton an agitation to save the American
eagles IN Alaska by removing the
price Of 80 cents head, which was
placed on their heads by the Alas
kan legislature In 1917, which made
posed destructiveness. The accusers
of the bird of freedom In Alaska have
made out very black prima facie
case against him, but the bird experts
of the Audubon societies generally be-
lieye that the eagle has been convicted
on hearsay evidence and without much
of trial. BY way of giving the bird
his day In court, the department of
agriculture has sent scientist 10
Alaska 10 make a close study of ways
and habits of the defendant.
The number Of eagles killed In
Alaska since the bounty law wept into
ICeffect Is not less than 1900. accord
| Ing to estimates today. Z. d.. Gar
field. secretary of the Alaska Fish and
Game club, in letter to NJ. Pearson
in August said:
"a vast difference is noted in the
numbers OF these birds showing In
southeastern and western Alaska, and
1t is safe prediction that, IL the
slaughter continues for few years
| longer, the species will become prac-
| tically extinct In this country"
Asks Suspension Of Bounty.
According to Mr.. Pearson, one sec
| ton or another of this country Is al
ways working itself up into witch
burning zeal against some particular
bird, which usually proves In time
| TO be not only innocent, but beneh-
| cial.
"Of course, human beings are more
important than Birds" he said, 'and
their concerns are entitled to first con-
sideration. II the charges against the
| American eagle were all proved. the
bounty law would be justified. But
there have been so many mistaken
slaughtering campaigns against valu.
able or harmless birds that we are ask
ing in this case n suspension of the
bounty law until the study of the hab-
its of the eagle, which have been I'M
dertaken. show whether he really de.
serves slaughter or not.
"a few years ago there was an anti.
meadow-lark campaign In California
Speeches were made in the Legislature
to the effect that they were running
the grape crop in some sections. Fol-
time It seemed as II the meadow
lark was doomed, but careful Inves.
tigation of the origin Of the outcry
against the lark showed that II oil
started with & statement Of farmer
that he had seen a lark sitting on the
grapes.
New Jersey had similar period
Of hysterIa against the robin, which
was alleged to be destroying the
cherry crop. There was great propn-
eanda In Arkansas and Texas for a
time because Of the untrue charge
that they were destroying rice fields
zone OF the most exciting cam
paigns Of persecution against a lib
ernl bird started along the gulf const
IN 1918, when II was alleged that the
brown pelican was destroying food hsh
at the rate Of nearly a million dollar'