FISHING THE PACIFIC 



shoals of small fish into the shallows where they then scoop 

 them into their capacious pouches. 



The brown and Chilean pelicans obtain their food by div- 

 ing. Like gannets, birds of these species circle around and flap 

 to and fro at some height above the water until they observe 

 fish swimming near the surface. Then the wings are almost 

 completely folded and they plunge downward with such 

 force that the spray dashes high about them and the resulting 

 splash may be heard half a mile away. There are eight differ- 

 ent varieties of pelicans and all are great spotters of fish, par- 

 ticularly in shallow water, so keep your eyes glued on them if 

 you are fishing near the birds. 



Another great favorite of mine is the frigate bird, or man- 

 of-war hawk. They are the most completely aerial of all the 

 water birds and can soar and float for many minutes without 

 using their wings. These interesting birds hover over schools 

 of dolphin which they customarily follow. They never settle 

 on the water or on a level coast, and I am told they could not 

 rise from the surface if they did so as they require an elevation 

 from which to take off. 



Frigate birds are marvelous fliers, being very swift, and 

 they pick up their food from the surface of the water by a 

 rapid movement of the bill while in flight. They pursue 

 pelicans, cormorants, terns and gulls, forcing these birds to 

 drop fish which they have caught. Other sea birds have little 

 chance of escaping from these fast-flying burglars, and if they 

 are overtaken before they have dropped their food, the man- 

 of-war gives them a terrific peck with his long hooked beak, 

 a blow which may easily dislocate a wing. Usually before this 

 happens the victim drops its prey, upon which the man-of- 



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