Reports of Field Agents 



3o5 



to which lovers of birds and nature may ever continue to resort for enjoyment 

 and instruction. As this is one of the scenic 'high-spots' of this part of the 

 country, such a consummation would be abundantly worth while. 



REPORT OF ARTHUR H. NORTON, FIELD AGENT 

 FOR MAINE 



The winter was one of unusual mildness. The regular winter resident birds 

 found much bare ground and shores free from ice, with open coves and bays. 

 Hence no particular effort was demanded to relieve species sometimes threat- 

 ened with hardship or starvation. A session of the State Legislature, lasting 

 from January i into April, required attention. The movement, perennial 

 since 1907, to make Mount Katahdin a state park and wild-life reservation 

 assumed imposing proportions and shape, only once more to meet defeat, 

 notwithstanding great effort on the part of the Audubon Societies and other 

 organizations and individuals. 



A bill to allow the "killing of Sea Gulls" was introduced. It was shown 

 the Committee, evidently ignorant of the fact that these birds came under the 

 protection of the Federal Migratory Bird Act, and that the state could not 

 take such action; and further shown that by an act of the previous Legislature, 

 the State had full power to act in cooperation with the Federal authorities in 

 giving rehef from actual damage done by these and other wild birds. The bill, 

 however, passed but was vetoed by Governor Baxter. 



Through our effort, the local Audubon Society and the local Association for 

 the Protection of Fish and Game had a large poster printed, giving the provi- 

 sions of the Federal Migratory Act, with maximum penalty in its relation to 

 this state. This was sent through the state by the resident U. S. Game Warden 

 under frank. Postmasters responded by posting the notice, thus reaching 

 thousands of people. At the request of Federal Game Warden, Bertrand G. 

 Smith, I went as pilot on a trip by water along the coast, among the islands 

 and ledges where sea-fowl are shot. Nearly a hundred gunning-places were 

 thus visited. 



In June, with the cooperation of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and 

 Game, Hon. Willis E. Parsons, in the state boat and with State Warden Capt. 

 Herbert L. Spinney, a trip of inspection of the colonies of breeding sea-birds 

 from Small Point to the westerly side of Penobscot Bay was carried out. On 

 these trips it was found that in early May many Eider Ducks were bedded near 

 past and present breeding-places of the species, and in June several scattered 

 birds were found at places well to the west of their last-known breeding-stations. 

 The colony of Laughing Gulls was found to be in excellent condition and now 

 numbers several hundred birds. They are commonly seen at Bath, a distance 

 of twenty-five miles from their breeding-ground. 



Herring Gulls have increased enormously, and during the past ten years 



