0:00The most valuable cargo that sank
with the Titanic wasn’t gold or
0:04diamonds - though there was plenty of that
that ended up at the bottom of the ocean,
0:08too. Nope - it was…feathers. You see, back in
those days, hats with exotic feathers were the
0:14ultimate symbols of luxury, and rich folks
were willing to pay a fortune for them. The
0:1940 crates of exotic bird plumage that sank
were worth 2.3 million in today’s dollars.
0:25Because plumage was so valuable, hunters nearly
wiped out several bird species for their feathers.
0:31However, as bird numbers fell, the same rich
people who drove the initial craze became
0:36the birds' fiercest advocates. Socialites became
activists, and hosted parties to convince others
0:42about the dangers of overhunting. These parties
eventually led to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,
0:47which legally protects migratory birds and
their habitats. Now that’s a Titanic turnaround.
