PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IN INDIA. n 9 



With these data before them, it was obviously impossible for the 

 authorities to view with equanimity such an intolerable state of affairs. 

 AU reports and returns showed conclusively that the trade was rapidly 

 increasing ; that birds were being killed wholesale for the sake of their 

 plumage ; and that, if prompt measures were not taken, the extermination 

 of various species, which are to be found in India only, was imminent. 

 Accordingly as a first step to check this indiscriminate slaughter, a 

 Notification, No. 5028 S. R., dated the 19th September 1902, was issued 

 under the Sea Customs Act, 1878, (VIII of 1878), prohibiting the taking 

 by sea or by land out of British India of skins and feathers of all birds 

 other than domestic birds, except {a) feathers of ostriches, and (b) skins 

 and feathers exported bona fide as specimens illustrative of Natural 

 History. 



As this prohibition was issued without notice or warning, a large number 

 of representations were received, notably from a trader in Simla, who had 

 in stock skins of Impeyans and black Argus to the value of Rs. 6,000, and 

 from two firms in Calcutta who had in hand 6,000 skins of Impeyan and 

 Argus pheasants, and six cases of Kingfishers' feathers, and to enable 

 them to dispose of their stocks, and to wind up their businesses, the 

 operation of the, orders was suspended until the 1st January 1903. 



Shortly after this, the attention of Government was drawn to a letter 

 which appeared in the Madras Mail of the 29th June 1903, in which 

 the writer gave prominence to the fact that no provision had been made 

 for detecting the export of feathers and plumage by land to territories of 

 Foreign Governments in India, such as Goa and Pondicherry. This point 

 immediately received clue attention, and with the cordial co-operation of the 

 French and Portuguese authorities, these outlets for export were also 

 closed. 



In July of the same year (1903) a Postal Notice drawing attention of 

 the public to the prohibition of 18th September 1902, was issued to the 

 following effect : — 



' : It is hereby notified that the transmission by post out of British India of 

 skins and feathers of all birds other than domestic birds, except («) feathers of 

 ostriches and (&) skins and feathers exported bond fide as specimens illustrative 

 of Natural History is prohibited. 



''2. In the case of all parcels containing- birds' skins or feathers for which 

 customs declarations are required, the name of the bird must be entered in the 

 customs declaration ; and if exemption from the above prohibition is claimed 

 on the ground that the skins or feathers are being exported lorn fide as specimens 

 illustrative of Natural History, a statement to this effect must be made in the 

 customs declaration, otherwise the parcel will not be accepted for transmission 

 by post." 



The trade in plumage, however, being very lucrative, the above measures 

 were not sufficient to check it, and it appeared that export by foreign 

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