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MEAN NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OBSERVED PER HOUR 



X = ZONE NOT SAMPLED IN THIS MONTH 



Figure 20. Seasonal abundance and seaward distribution patterns of the skuas 

 ( Catharact a sp.) in the northern Chesapeake Bight, 1971-1977. 



GULLS 



Gulls of the genus Larus generally were present offshore during the 

 cold-water months, October through May. All species I observed breed in the 

 Northern Herrisphere during the summer. This fact, plus the absence of the 

 large foreign fishing fleets which attract gulls to offshore areas, account 

 for the scarcity of gulls offshore in summer months. From November through 

 March, 71.8% of the total offshore avifauna counted consisted of gulls of the 

 genus Larus , which often gathered by the hundreds around fishing vessels, 

 especially the foreign fleets which were routinely seen from November to May 

 along the edge of the Continental Shelf in the vicinity of Baltimore Canyon. 



Chumming with coarsely ground beef suet and stale bread during this 

 period attracted several hundred gulls, most of which were herring gulls (L. 

 a rqentatus ). Chumming generally failed to attract gulls from mid-May through 

 mid-September. 



Running totals of these habitual ship followers, recorded each half hour, 

 were subjectively adjusted on the basis of recognizable individuals and there- 

 fore, represent reasonably accurate counts. 



GLAUCOUS GULL ( Larus hyperboreus ) 



Status . --Rare winter visitant over all zones of the Continental Shelf 

 (Fig."7TTr 



30 



