The Audubon Societies 



151 



restricted area in Florida and a still smaller 

 one in Texas. Every bird of this species 

 that is now killed hastens the day when the 

 race will become extinct. These facts ren- 

 dered the act of Jack and the spirit which 

 prompted him the more despicable; and 

 the northern dealers who received his ille- 

 gallv secured goods were in no wise excu- 

 sable. To verify- the facts and get evidence 

 for a prosecution, a letter was written to 

 Jack asking whether he could furnish two 

 skins. These were promptly forwarded, 

 and subsequently he sent two skins of the 

 Florida Cardinal and two of the Florida 

 Bob-white, the latter being game-birds 

 which were killed during the close season. 

 The chain of evidence being complete, it 

 was forwarded to the Department of Agri- 

 culture at Washington, which has charge 

 of the enforcement of the Lacey Act that 

 prohibits interstate commerce in illegally 

 killed birds and game. Jack, in addition 

 to killing non-game birds illegally and 

 game-birds out of season, also violated the 

 Federal Act by delivering them to a com- 

 mon carrier for transportation beyond the 

 state, without having the nature and con- 

 tents of the package distinctly endorsed 

 upon the same. The Department of Agri- 

 culture placed the matter in the hands of 

 the United States Department of Justice, 

 and the latter caused the arrest of Jack. On 

 furnishing bail he was released, to stand 

 trial at Tampa, at the February term of the 

 United States Court for the Southern Dis- 

 trict of Florida. Jack, having no defense 

 to offer, plead guiltj- and was fined. It is 

 hoped that the drastic lesson given in this 

 case will serve as a warning to all persons 

 who do not yet seem to realize that the 

 National and State Audubon Societies are 

 determined to see that the state and federal 

 laws for the protection of birds and game 

 must be respected and observed. 



Tex.as. — The Audubon Society of this 

 state, although but recently organized, has 

 been precipitated into a strenuous fight to 

 prevent the amendment of the present ex- 

 cellent game-law in respect to wild fowl. 

 The bag limit is now twenty-five birds per 

 day, none of which can be shipped out of 

 the state, nor can they be transported in the 



state, except when accompanied by the 

 sportsman 



A combination of market shooters, pot- 

 hunters and other selfishly interested parties, 

 are making a determined effort to remove 

 all restrictions to their trade. To get game 

 for market, disreputable means are some- 

 times employed by dealers. The following 

 extract from a letter written by a St. Louis 

 commission house to a prominent citizen of 

 Texas shows the importance of good laws 

 well enforced. 



"I was advised if I, or others, were able 

 to obtain game, to ship the birds under a 

 fictitious name, giving a fictitious name for 

 myself and billing to a fictitious firm in St. 

 Louis. Further instructions were to notify 

 the commission house of the shipment and 

 the name to which the package was sent. 

 They could then manage to obtain it with- 

 out risk to themselves or to the party at 

 this end." 



Secretary Davis, of the Audubon Society, 

 aided bv hosts of others who have the best 

 interests of the state at heart, are doing 

 everything possible to prevent any change 

 in the law. The press, with one voice, is 

 opposing change and is giving ver)' valua- 

 ble aid bv editorial comment, and is also 

 freely printing many long and valuable ar- 

 ticles from the pen of Mr. Davis, whose 

 activitv and earnestness, together with that 

 of his Audubon associates, is in the highest 

 degree commendable. In this connection, 

 it is a pleasure to mention the high civic 

 stand taken by General Passenger Agent 

 Anderson, of the Southern Pacific Railway 

 Companv, who is very earnestly working 

 to prevent any change in the law. 



The legislature will remain in session for 

 some time, and it is impossible to determine 

 at this writing what the outcome will be; 

 but it is hoped that the law will remain as 

 it now is. 



New York. — The Audubon Society is 

 having its annual fight to prevent the repeal 

 of that section of the game-law which pro- 

 hibits wild-fowl shooting after January i. 

 The society is not working alone, by any 

 means, for sportsmen and naturalists from 

 all parts of the state are arrayed against 

 a small but determined band of baymen, 



