situation, we would be more than pleased to provide you with a 

 written summsiry of Fish and Wildlife Service's actions which took 

 place and answer any questions which you or Mr. Ewing or any 

 other member of this committee or the Congress as a whole may 

 have on that. We would be happy to do that if that would help fa- 

 cilitate your understanding of wnat happened and why. 

 [The following was submitted:] 



Dreamcatcher Investigation 



The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for enforcing the provisions of 

 the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918. Under the MBTA, it is unlawful for 

 anyone to kill, capture, collect, possess, buy, trade, sell, ship, import, or export any 

 migratory bird, including feathers, parts, nests, or eggs. 



The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not actively investigate mere possession 

 cases. We focus our investigative efforts on commercial trade. The Service's inves- 

 tigation into the illegal commercialization of migratory birds feathers by Ms. Peg 

 Bargon was an investigation into the commercial (for profit) sale of migratory bird 

 feathers. Evidence showed that Ms. Bargon was actively collecting and encouraging 

 others to collect migratory bird feathers to be used in simulated Native American 

 handicrafts and offered for sale. 



In May 1994, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, in her official capacity as First 

 Lady, received a "Dreamcatcher" during an appearance at the University of Illinois. 

 The dreamcatcher was made by Peg Bargon and it contained feathers from pro- 

 tected migratory birds including bald eagle, barred owl, goshawk, and snowy owl. 

 As soon as Mrs. Clinton learned that the dreamcatcher contained feathers from pro- 

 tected species, she immediately turned it over to officials of the U.S. Fish and Wild- 

 life Service. 



As the popularity of American Indian artifacts has increased, a lucrative market 

 has developed for migratory bird and eagle feathers to decorate manv Indian curios 

 and art objects. Enforcement officers have no way of determining whether feathers 

 used in art work are found on the ground in one's own backyard, or if they came 

 from a bird that was killed illegally. The prohibitions under the Migratory Bird 

 Treaty Act are therefore intended to eliminate any commercial market for the birds 

 themselves as well as their featiiers and parts. Also, Mrs. Bargon has no affiliation 

 with any Native American tribe and would not qualify for possession of feathers on 

 this basis. 



Statements recorded by Special Agents during the investigation documented that 

 Bargon, Norma Allen and Beverly Fogel, owners of the Sisters Etc. Crafters Mail 

 where the dreamcatchers were publicly displayed and sold, knew and discussed the 

 fact that possession and sale of migratory bird parts and feathers was illegal. In 

 addition, Allen and Fogel admitted to Special Agents that they had been warned 

 that the sale and possession of migratory bird parts and feathers was illegal. They 

 further stated that they discussed this conversation with Bargon. They still decided 

 to continue to commercially deal in the dreamcatchers. 



Brad Purcell, who stored migratory bird parts at his residence for Bargon, stated 

 to Special Agents that his attorney had advised him that the possession and sale 

 of parts and feathers of migratory birds was illegal. Purcell stated that he discussed 

 this information with Bargon and they still continued with the illegal commer- 

 cialization of migratory bird feathers. 



During the investigation, Bargon stated to Special Agents that she not only col- 

 lected the feathers and whole carcasses of protected migratory birds herself but she 

 encouraged hunters, trappers and others to collect and provide her with such bird 

 parts. 



STATEMENT OF MARSHALL JONES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR 

 FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE 

 SERVICE; ACCOMPANIED BY DR. SUSAN LIEBERMAN, TOM 

 STIEGLER, AND RODDY GABLE 



Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate this opportunity to be 

 here today to discuss the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's imple- 

 mentation of the Wild Bird Conservation Act. For reasons which I 

 will describe, we believe that the reauthorization of this act with- 

 out amendments is vitally important to the continued survival of 



