8 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



possession for the purpose of sale. This opinion would apply 

 to parts of any wild birds. 



I call your attention to this law, and your violation thereof, 

 for the purpose of asking whether you will voluntarily discon- 

 tinue the sale of all such feathers and parts of wild birds. The 

 Society has confidence that you will see, as other stores have, 

 that as public spirited citizens you do not wish to take the 

 attitude of defying or evading the law, or of lending your store, 

 for purposes of small private profit, to aid in the ruthless 

 slaughter and extermination of these beautiful wild birds which 

 are many times more valuable alive than dead, and whose 

 destruction in the breeding season is accompanied by the wanton 

 and unspeakable suffering of their young. 



The Society does not wish to take any public action in 

 . regard to the matter, if you wish to immediately cease the 

 violation. 



Thanking you for prompt information as to your attitude, . 

 I am Yours very truly 



Everett L. Millard. 



All the stores thus addressed showed an immediate desire to comply 

 with the provisions of the law and with the spirit of this letter. One or 

 two of the stores had not been selling aigrettes for some time, but were 

 selling other contraband feathers. Several of them asked for a little time 

 in which to dispose of or reduce the stock they had on hand, promising 

 meanwhile to purchase no more of such feathers. Owing to their fair 

 attitude and prompt compliance with the request of the Society, they were 

 informed that no action would be taken in making complaint to the Fish 

 and Game Commission, except for violations found after February 1, 1917, 

 although no action of the Audubon Society, could of course, bind the 

 official Commission in any way as to action they might take of their own 

 accord. Most of the stores had little or no stock of aigrettes, but consider- 

 able of Paradise and goura feathers, and it was felt that a sufficient victory 

 had been won in getting the honest cooperation of the dealers, without 

 putting them to undue hardships. 



Public mention was made of the enforcement of the law in the news 

 columns of the daily papers, and an editorial appeared in the Chicago 

 Herald, January 21, commending the Society for the result. The Fish and 

 Game Commission have shown that they are officially interested in the 

 matter, in cooperation with the Society's representative, and it is understood 

 they have notified the stores that the sale of such feathers will be stopped 

 after February 1, in harmony with the plans of the Society. 



The Directors of the Society feel that the results secured are important, 

 not only for the actual protection of wild birds and in the moral effect 

 resulting from the enforcement of the law, but in the public attention 

 thereby secured to the principle involved. It remains now to move against 

 violators of this law in other cities of our state. Readers of this Bulletin 

 can take the initiative in this matter by warning violators wherever found 

 and at the same time by sending in data to the Secretary of this Society 

 relating specifically to such violations. 



