The Year's Work 305 



February 20, 1905. 

 The Honorable The Secretary of the Interior, 

 Washington, D. C. 

 Sir— The National Association of Audubon Societies (incorporated) has been 

 informed by its representative at Honolulu, H. I., that efforts are now being made by pri- 

 vate interests to exploit the colonies of Albatrosses and other sea-birds which breed in arge 

 numbers upon Neckar and adjacent islands lying toward the western extremity of the 

 Hawaiian group. The killing of these beautiful and beneficial sea-birds is to be done in 

 the interests of foreign millinery trade; and as an inducement to secure a license from the 

 Territorial government for this purpose, the latter is offered a percentage of the receipts 

 from the sale of skins. The parties in interest claim that the Territorial government will 

 receive several thousand dollars yearly as its share in the nefarious business, although, so 

 far as we have heard, no estimate of the length of time the business will probably continue 

 has been offered. The plea is also made that only the annual increase of the birds will 



be slaughtered. • r .u^ 



We submit that the killing of these graceful scavengers of the sea at any time, for the 

 purpose indicated, is indefensible; that to slaughter them (which must be done during the 

 breeding season) with young in the nest necessarily left to starve, is utterly barbarous; 

 that the foreign millinery trade in bird skins should not be encouraged by any coopera- 

 tion especially official cooperation, in the possessions of the United States; that the 

 method suggested for raising territorial revenue is unworthy of the American people; 

 that the suggestion of limiting the slaughter to the annual increase is merely an evasion, 

 impossible, and unworthy of consideration, and that the entire annihilation of these breed- 

 ing colonies of birds would unquestionably follow the action proposed, within three or 

 four years We submit, also, that all investigations into the broad subject of economic 

 ornithology-the relation of birds in general to human existence-are in favor of protecting 

 the birds, and we therefore feel justified in the belief that a wise public policy will not 

 only discourage the proposed slaughter but, if possible, devise plans and methods of 



preservation. . . . 1 1 .4 „ 



In case a contract has been considered along the above lines, it is earnestly desired, on 



the part of the directors of the National Association, that the matter be held m abeyance 



until the subject can be taken up personally with your Department and a more detailed 



protest can be filed. , 



We do not know whether, under the Territorial conditions, any of these small islands 

 could be protected by being proclaimed bird reservations, as has been done in the case of 

 Pelican Island, Florida, and Breton, and other islands near the mouth of the Mississippi 

 river Louisiana; but we earnestly ask your advice and co6peration, to the end that early 

 action of definite and conclusive character, if possible, may be taken to preserve these 

 bij-js Very respectfully yours, 



(Signed) William Dutcher, 



President. 



Department of the Interior, Washington, April 15, 1905. 



Mr. William Dutcher, 



President, National Association of Audubon Societies, 

 525 Manhattan Avenue, New York City. 

 5;>— Your letter has been received stating that you have been advised that private 

 interests contemplate the destruction of Albatrosses and other birds upon Neckar and adja- 

 cent islands lying toward the western extremity of the Hawaiian group for the foreign 

 millinery trade and suggesting that steps be taken looking to the protection of said birds 

 rather than their slaughter. 



