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Act, by making the catching of wild birds by means of a line 
and hook, a barbarous West Country practice, punishable by a 
fine of 40s. for a first offence, and for a subsequent convic- 
tic.., and the measure was, we are pleased to say, enthusiastically 
adopted by the House. 
The Plumage Bill. — The Select Committee of the House 
of Lords issued their Report as a Blue Book, of which the 
following is a sum mary : — 
“The Committee see no reason to suppose that the exclusion from the market 
of the plumage of rare birds would materially affect the feather trade of the 
country as a whole. The great bulk of the imports in that branch of commerce 
consist of feathers of the ostrich and other birds, which are exempted under the 
Bill, and the feathers which would be excluded are of relatively small value. 
Any reduction, therefore, in the importation of feathers of birds protected by the 
Bill would, in the opinion of the Committee, be counterbalanced, or so far as 
employment in this country is concerned, more than counterbalanced, by the 
use of other feathers or of artificial flowers. 
“On the question of the extermination of rare birds the Committee received 
valuable evidence from persons acquainted with the conditions in Australia, 
India, South America, and other countries from which plumage is sent to Great 
Britain. 
“The evidence was such as to show conclusively, in the opinion of the 
Committee, that not only are birds of many species slaughtered recklessly, but 
also that the methods employed for slaughter are such as in many cases, and 
especially in that of egrets, to involve the destruction of the young birds and 
eggs. Birds are, as a rule, in their finest plumage at the time of nesting, and 
have been shown to be specially the prey of hunters at that season. 
“The Committee have carefully considered the facts submitted to them, and 
they are satisfied that while many birds are being greatly reduced in number, 
others are in danger of being actually exterminated. 
“They are also of opinion that the feathers of egrets imported into Great 
Britain are obtained by killing the birds during the breeding season, and that 
few, if any, are moulted plumes. 
“The Committee have therefore had to consider if it is possible, by a Bill 
prohibiting the import of the plumage, skins, or bodies into Great Britain, to 
reduce the destruction of the birds within reasonable limits. 
“ It appears clearly from tbe evidence that the enactments of British Colonies 
and certain foreign countries, which provide a close season for wild birds, and 
of India, which prohibits their export, are to a considerable extent ineffective, 
partly on account of the open market in this and other countries. 
“The Committee believe, therefore, that the Bill would not only be of general 
advantage, but would also render more effective the legislation of India, of 
Australia, and of the United States. While the Committee are strongly of 
opinion that the Bill would be useful in itself, they consider that it would be 
more effective if legislation of the same kind were adopted by other countries. 
They trust, therefore, that His Majesty’s Government will endeavour to secure 
international action with a view to the preservation of rare and beautiful birds, 
and that the Bill may be made the basis of representations to other governments, 
in order to induce them to pass similar laws.” 
The Committee inserted a new clause in the Bill exempting 
feathers imported for fiy-tying, and the Bill has now passed its 
first reading in the House of Commons and has been ordered to 
be printed. Opposition is threatened by some representatives 
of the “murderous millinery’’ trades for the coming autumn 
session ; but we may confidently trust that due weight will be 
given by the Lower House to the expert evidence laid before 
the Lords’ Committee. 
