370 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



in part to unsatisfactorv bivedin*; conditions at Pelican Island, a 

 few miles farther south. A typical case of violation of the act pro- 

 tectinjr birds on bird reservations occurred on December 14, 1919, 

 when a yacht passed throufjjh the reservation bearinf;; three nonresi- 

 dent sportsmen who Avantonly shot a number of ^ulls, terns, and 

 pelicans. One of the offenders was subsequently arrested at Miami, 

 warrants were obtained for the other two, and the case was set for 

 trial at the next term of the Federal court at Jacksonville. This act 

 of vandalism occurred within si<iht of a large sign warning against 

 shooting on the reservation; such acts occur occasionally, but each 

 instance has been followed by prompt arrest and conviction. 



Pelican Island Reservation, Fla. — The birds on Pelican Island 

 arrived August 13-14, earlier than usual. Eggs were laid in the first 

 week in September, but a storm on the 28th destroyed most of them. 

 The first young w^ere hatched during the last week of October, but 

 storms and high water on November 17-18 practically swept the 

 island clear of all but a few nests, only those on the higher parts 

 escaping, and these were later abandoned. Later unfavorable con- 

 ditions in February were followed by an abandonment of the nests 

 about March 1. Thus the season which began a month earlier than 

 ordinarily was peculiarly unfavorable and fewer birds than usual 

 were reared. 



Passage Key Reservation^ Fla. — Two large observation towers 

 were erected on Passage Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay by Army 

 engineers during the spring of 1920 in the only grove of mangroves 

 on the island, and the tops of the trees were cut off and the nesting 

 birds disturbed and driven away. The construction of these towers 

 proved so detrimental to the interests of the reservation that ar- 

 rangements have been made with the War Department to prevent 

 future occurrences of this sort. Passage Key has suffered severely 

 during the last few years from erosion and the effects of tropical 

 storms. The island is now less than half its original size, but still 

 includes the breeding grounds of gulls, skimmers, least terns, and 

 several species of herons. Every effort is being made to afford the 

 birds protection on the limited area nOAV available for nesting sites. 



Tortugas Keys Reservation^ Fla. — A severe hurricane which vis- 

 ited the reservation in September did considerable damage both to 

 the warden's quarters and to the birds. A lean-to kitchen was com- 

 pletely demolished, the porch and other parts of the headquarters 

 damaged, and the warden himself had a narrow escape from serious 

 personal injury. After being marooned on the island for three days, 

 practically without food, he Avas rescued by the naval tug from Key 

 West. Many of the birds were overwhelmed by the storm, but it is 

 impossible to ascertain the exact number. Warden service Avas re- 

 established in June, and arrangements haA'e been made for neces- 

 sary repairs to the quarters. The number of terns on this reservation 

 has increased to a point Avhere it Avill be necessary, after the breed- 

 ing season is over, to provide further nesting sites and material by 

 planting bay cedars. These bushes were formerly numerous on the 

 island. l)ut many of them Avere destroyed some j'ears ago by storms 

 and high water. 



Big Lake Reservation^ Ark. — The location of proposed drainage 

 canals on the north and east sides of this reservation has been ad- 



