The Audubon Societies
Owen. commanding the detachment oi ma- rines at Midway Island. the landing point of the Pacific cable. stating that the em- pluyees of the cable company have threatened to leave the island by the next steamer ii the order of the department prohibiting them from carrying firearms and shooting the beautiful birds of the island is enforced. The department's reply to this cahlegtam was that the order was to be rigidly en- forced. as the ofiicials here are determined to put a stop to the carnage of these birds of plumage.”
California is still making great strides. new local branches being rapidly organized. Secretary Way writes: "I believe we will get r.ooo junior members in Pasadena. The letters I am getting from children. and the interest they are showing in this work. is decidedly encouraging.“ Mr. Way con- ducts a department in the ‘Pacific Fruit World.’ a paper of wide circulation, through which he has an opportunity to plead the cause of bird protection in a very forcible manner.
In addition to the above. the Society is making a determined effort to preserve the Mourning Dove. Large numbers of Edu— cational Leaflets No. 2 are being circulated, also a special leaflet entitled ‘Save the Nesting Doves‘ ltas been prepared by the California Society and is being used with good results. This aggressive fight to pro- tect this beautiful and uselul bird is strengthening the California Audubon So- ciety and is bringing it prominently heiore the public. An active. aggressive and pro- gressive society is like a two-edged sword. cuts both ways.~ helps itself and weakens the opposition. Such work is commended to some oi the other societies who seem somewhat lethargic.
Some large colonies of sea-birds breeding on the Oregon coast have been brought to the attention of the Committee. also certain acts of vandalism committed there. Steps have been taken to prevent such occurrences in the future. through the cooperation of Mr. J. W. Baker, State Game Warden. De- tails of the above will be given in the annual report. and it is hoped that it may he accom- panied by some interesting photographs.
'75
The North Dakota Audubon Society has commenced a very active campaign (or state work. It has in progress an extremely im- portant movement. the details oi the suc- cessful completion of which may he given in the near iuture. certainly in the annual report, licity at the present time might delay or defeat the project,
In North Carolina the citizens will soon learn that the Audubon Society is a force. (or it has. since its organilalion. conducted
it is of such a character that pub-
Flfty successlul prosecutions for violation oi the bird- and game-laws.
One thousand warning notices. containing the new state hitd- and game-laws and also the provisions of the Lacey Act lFetleral Law). have been sent to Louisiana for distribution. Frank M. Miller. President of the Louisiana Audubon Society. reports that during the past season five thousand eggs were destroyed at one time. at a breed- ing-ground on the Gulf Coast. This was done in order that fresh eggs Could be col- lected subsequently, Mr. Miller. during the coming winter. will have a complete survey of the Louisiana coast made in order to locate all of the breeding-grounds. so that complete protection by wardens may be given in r905.
The Committee has long felt that inas— much as all the warning notices prepared. and sent for distribution to the several state Audubon Societies. contained. in addition to the State Law. the Federal Law or Lacey Act. there should be no objection to having them displayed prominently in post-othces. Application int such permission was “title to the Post-oflice Department. and the same has been granted. A facsi ile of the order has been prepared and m be furnished to any of the Audubon Societies tllat desire to place notices in the post-uttices at their state. provided the said warning notice is in the form detailed above,
Two thousand five hundred copies of an 'Open Letter to Clcrgymen' have been sent to the religious and secular press of the country. and it is being published widely. The letter refers mainly to the use of the aigrette and the lights of birds as citizens. In this connection a pleasing incident has
