Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-27
FINE FEATHERS
SAVED BY LAW
FOR FINE BIRDS
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

BY FREDERIC j. HASkIN.
New York City, April 26.-The
plumage of the bird OF paradise,
one of the loveliest and cruclist of
feminine adornments, is making
positively it's last appearance in
New York millinery shops this sea-
son. In another year, it is expect
ed, it will have completely disap-
peared, because by that time it is
going to be too dangerous to sell
it. Consequently, nearly every hat
shop window in the city now con-
tains a gorgeous display of para
disc plumes, marked down to bar
gain prices.
Because of the near extinction of
the bird of paradise species. the
importation Of paradise feathers
was forbidden in the tariff law of
1913, but since that act neglected
to place any restrictions upon their
sale, they have continued to appear
with persistent regularity in the
millinery market. The new tariff
law, however, contains the necess-
sary restrictions IN an amendment
which puts on the dealer the bur-
den of proving his stock of feath-
ers was in this country in or before
1913. Hence, the present intense
anxiety of dealers to dispose Of
their paradise feathers before the
act is put into effect.
Under the old law, it was the
government that had to supply the
proof which was impractical.
About the only way the federal
authorities could obtain convic-
ton was to catch a smuggler in
the act of bringing paradise feath-
ers into the country. once they
were here, they were as safe as if
they had been formally passed by
the customs officials. The snug
gler had no trouble in disposing of
the feathers to a jobber. who, in
turn, sold them to department
stores or millincrs, to whom he
furnished certificates and other
data designed to show that the
merchandise had been in the Unit
ed States the required number of
years. And, as the law did not
question the good faith of dealers
who bought feathers on the
strength of these shaky certifi-
Gates, neither could the federal dis
trict attorney.
No Shortage Of Plumes.
Thus, the smuggling of paradise
feathers into this country has been
proceeding briskly for the last nine
years, during which time the mil
linery market has meyer been an
noyed by shortage. The demand
for the plumes, according to one
dealer, is "as steady as that for
diamonds" so that smugglers have
always been able to dispose of
their goods promptly. Most of the
smuggling has been carried on by
seamen and officers of merchant
ships from the Mediterranean, who
usually conceal the feathers under
their clothing.
Lean seamen," one official tells
us, had waddled off their ships
swollen and puffed like Falstaffs
by layers upon layers of plumes
strapped to their limbs and trunks.
On some lines customs inspectors
first take a glance at the neck and
then at the waist Of the seaman.
II they observe a No. ID neck
springing out of a 60-inch torso
they make an arrest and usually
recover n few thousand dollars
worth of feathers. On one occa-
sion, suspiciously well-timbered
and pompous ship captain was
searched and a mere core or kerr
mel or human being found running
through a huge structure of feath-
ers."
All Of the confiscated plumes.
as specified in the 1913 law, have
been turned over to the National
Association of Audubon societies.
which has formed them into ex-
hibiits ana distributed them among
sixty different museums through
out the country. About twenty
thousand dollars worth of plumes.
it is said, are to be found in these
collections.
In spite OF these gratifying con-
tributions TO science, the Audubon
societies, under the leadership of
their president, T. Gilbert Pearson.
have never ceased to agitate for
a more effective law. Their only
fear has been that it would come
too late-after the last of the "Ma-
(birGs of the gods) as
they are called in East Indian is
lands, had fallen victim to feminine
fashions.
The birds are found in Papda,
New Guinea and certain parts of
Africa, where they are easily
slaughtered by the natives during
the mating season.
"Only the full grown male bird
has the gorgeous spread of feathers
which is coveted by commerce." ex-
plains Kew York dealer, who is
something of an authority on the
subject. This is at its best during
the counting season when they hold
their annual dancing exhibits for
the benefit Of the less gorgeous but
highly priced females.
Males Hold Exhibition.
"On this occasion, the male birds
dance and fly about. exhibiting
their attractions In a sort of COM
petitive examination while the fe-
males stand silently by, cycling them
critically and finally making a
choice. During this dancing party
the birds are so preoccupied and
worried for fear they won't be
chosen that they lose all their nat
ural caution, and are easily picked
off with blow-pipes by the natives.
1T isn't necessary to kill the
birds in order to get their feathers,
but is usually moro convenient.
Lately, since they have been grow
ing SO scarce. they are frequently
trapped and released after the