The Audubon Docicties 
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 
Edited by WILLIAM DUTCHER 
Address all correspondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions to 
the National Association of Audubon Societies, 141 Broadway, New York City 
President Dutcher’s Departure for Europe 
Pp P' 
President William Dutcher sailed on 
May 17 for Europe aboard the steamer 
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. He goes to 
attend the Fifth International Ornitho- 
logical Congress, which will be held in 
Berlin, May 30 to June 4. Mr. Dutcher 
will address the section of Bird Protection, 
and present a plan for a world-wide 
organization among the nations which 
shall work for the conservation of wild 
bird and animal life.-—T. G. PEARSON. 
The New York Plumage Law 
On May 7, 1910, Governor Charles E. 
Hughes, of New York State, signed the 
Shea-White Plumage Bill. Thus ended the 
most prolonged and hard-fought legisla- 
tive battle which the Audubon Societies 
have ever waged for bird protection. 
For four successive years attempts have 
been made to secure the enactment of 
this statute, but in every instance hereto- 
fore the opponents of the measure have 
been able to prevent its being reported 
favorably by the Committees of the Legis- 
lature, to which it was assigned for con- 
sideration. 
During the past year, a wide and sys- 
tematic campaign was conducted by the 
National Association in every county of the 
state. This educational effort at length so 
thoroughly aroused public interest that 
the legislature became aware that the 
people were strongly for the bill and de- 
manded its passage. 
From early in January until the sig- 
nature of the Governor was secured, the 
officers of the National Association were 
in close touch with the progress of the bill, 
the Secretary, in fact, remaining in Albany 
nearly one-half of the time. The Forest 
Fish and Game Commissioner was thor- 
oughly in sympathy with the effort, which 
added great strength to the cause. Much 
assistance was also rendered by the Audu- 
bon Society of New York State, the Camp- 
Fire Club of America, representatives 
of many game protective clubs, and hun- 
dreds of individuals working privately. 
The opposition to the measure appar- 
ently emanated entirely from the whole- 
sale milliners of New York City, who de- 
clared that their business would be seri- 
ously impaired. The dealers in aigrettes 
were especially active, being represented 
by attorneys and others at the hearing 
held before the Senate and Assembly 
Committees and the hearing given by 
Governor Hughes in his reception room 
on May 3. The milliners also maintained 
a lobbyist at Albany. 
The text of the amended game laws in 
reference to plumage now reads as follows: 
“Sec. 98. Certain wild birds protected. 
Wild birds other than the English Sparrow, 
Crow, Hawk, Crow Blackbird, Snow Owl, 
Great-horned Owl and Kingfisher, shall | 
not be taken or possessed at any time, 
dead or alive, except under the authority 
of a certificate issued under this chapter. 
No part of the plumage, skin or body of 
any bird protected by this section, or of 
any birds coming from without the state, 
whether belonging to the same or different 
species from that native to the state of New 
York, provided such birds belong to the 
same family as those protected by this 
chapter shall be sold or had in possession 
for sale. The provision of this section shall 
not apply to game birds for which an open 
season is provided in this chapter; except- 
ing that Quail, English pheasants and Hun- 
garian Partridges shall not be taken at any 
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