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6 Gro. 5 ProvinctaL Museum Report. N 15 


of the bird-life during the nesting season. Mr. W. B. Anderson was appointed warden of the 
island, and while stationed there also made a small collection of marine life and botanical 
specimens. Mr. Anderson reports as follows :— 
“Tn accordance with instructions, on June 15th I proceeded to Bare Island, in the Haro 
Strait, to act as warden and collector in the interests of the Museum. 
“The glaucous-winged gull, the only species which breeds on this island, had commenced 
to lay a few days before the date of my arrival, as of perhaps fifty-eight nests noted on the 
16th and 17th a few had three eggs—the maximum number—and a very few birds had begun 
to sit on the 17th. The total number of nests noted up to July 10th was 352. Upon this 
date I stopped counting these nests on account of there being so many sitting birds which 
would be disturbed at a critical stage of incubation. From the number of birds congregated 
on the island and outlying rocks, I estimate that not less than 450 bred this year on the 
island, a small number compared with what bred there twenty years ago, but still enough for 
nucleus of a large breeding stock if afforded adequate protection. The incubation period of 
these birds I have estimated to be about twenty-five days ; the first-sitting bird’s eggs marked 
on June 16th hatching on July 10th and 11th. 
“The pigeon guillemot breeds on the island in fair numbers; I judge there were 200 
nests there this year, as well as some on outlying rocks and on Halibut Island, Jones, Gooch, 
and other rocky islands adjacent. Though laying but two eggs, these are deposited in such 
cunningly concealed positions among the broken rocks and deep crevices, without any nest, 
that their extinction will be harder than in the case of the gulls, who make a big nest, plainly 
visible, in most exposed places. The incubating period of the guillemot is practically the same 
as that of the gull, the young being jet-black when hatched, the feet even lacking the brilliant 
scarlet colouring showing in the old of these interesting little birds. To make up for the lack 
of colour, however, the young are possessed of most pugnacious tempers, kicking, squealing, 
and biting very vigorously when drawn from their nests. 
“Fifty cormorants, I judge, nest on the high cliffs on the west side of the island, laying 
from three to five eggs. These birds get quite used to a human being moving about near the 
nests, provided one goes quietly and without unduly exciting movements. The young, which 
emerge in twenty-six days, are shiny black when first hatched, apparently sparsely covered 
with black bristles. In this stage they are very reptilian in suggestion. 
“During my stay on the island I noticed but three pair of puffins. These birds used to 
be plentiful, but shooting and other causes have brought about their almost entire disappear- 
ance from these islands. It is said that they breed in fair numbers on Skipjack Island, over 
the International Boundary from Bare Island. 
“The birds here mentioned comprise the entire breeding sea-colony of the area. The 
rare black or Bachman’s oyster-catcher, in former years plentiful, has disappeared. The little 
auklet, said at one time to have made this island its breeding-ground, has also deserted it for 
other parts. The causes for these diminutions and desertions is plainly evident: human 
beings—whites, Indians, and Japanese—carrying away the birds’ eggs and young. 
“Asa gull, after laying a first set of eggs and having them taken, lays only two the 
second time, it follows that the stock of young is diminished ; and when the second laying is 
removed it is probable that no more will be laid, or if by chance there are, the hatching will 
be so late that it is doubtful if the young will be strong enough to survive the rigours of the 
autumn. The practice of shooting on the grounds cannot be too strongly condemned. To say 
nothing of shooting during nesting season, winter shooting should also be rigidly prohibited. 
“During the autumn and winter months, even into late spring, the Canada goose and 
laughing goose frequent the rocky Gulf Islands, and, judging from the number of blinds built 
there, Bare Island seems to be a favourite haunt of these birds. In the interests of them 
alone a sanctuary should be provided, for the continual harrying of the flocks by sportsmen 
all over the Province leaves them scant opportunity to rest their weary wings and to glean a 
hasty meal. Apart from this, the strictly maritime birds of which I have already written are 
kept away from the island, and continual driving away, even outside of the nesting season, 
has a pronounced tendency to cause these birds to seek more secluded and therefore more 
distant spots in which to rear their young. 
“ Another reason for shooting on the island is that there are a number of rabbits there. 
Some years ago a very ill-advised person turned out some tame rabbits on several of the Straits 
islands, Bare Island being among them. The animals have increased and they are now an 
incentive to visiting hunters. A further evil in connection with these animals is their taking 
