332 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [22] 



ntes tlicj' have apparently recovered from their fii<^ht; but another 

 discliargc instantly demoralizes them again. During the violent gales 

 which are so frequent on the lishing-banks in the winter the little gulls, 

 though fully able to breast the force of the fiercest gale, prefer to sit 

 upon the water unless there is a prospect of obtaining food. At such 

 times they can almost always be seen in flocks near the stern of an an- 

 chored vessel, gracefully following the undulating upheaval of the 

 agitated waves; one or more perhaps may bo on the wing watching for 

 the appearance of the offal which may be washed from the vessel's deck. 

 The least indication of food instantly brings them all on the wing, 

 and, with their usual noisy scrambles in robbing one another, they 

 go skurrying off before the wind, rising and falling over the crests of 

 the breaking waves. It not only behooves the gulls at such times to 

 keep a sharp lookout for food, but they must be equally watchful for 

 their safety; for, should they be caught beneath the crest of one of the 

 huge, curling and topling waves, they would be instantlj' crushed or 

 torn to pieces. They are, therefore, constantly on the alert in a gale, 

 and are ready to rise on the wing and to fly over the crest of a break- 

 ing wave and immediately alight on the opposite side.* 



In the spring the kittiwake leaves the bank and goes inshore to its 

 breeding-grounds. Its nests are easily found upon the Newfoundland 

 shores, and very likely at many other places along the coast.t 



Terns. 



The common tern {Sterna Mrundo) Linn., occurs during summer in 

 limited numbers on the banks east of Sable Island. This species was 

 taken by Newcomb when with me on Banquereau. The common mack- 

 erel gull of the fishermen, the Arctic tern {8. arctica) is very abundant 

 in summer on the fishing banks near Sable Island, where it is said to 

 breed in great numbers. On September 3, 1878, Newcomb shot one of 

 these birds some 25 miles eastward of Sable Island.| 



Like the kittiwake, the terns are exceedingly noisy, and often gather 

 in great numbers about a vessel from which fish offal is being thrown, 

 but thcj^ are rarely abundant on the banks except in the immediate 

 vicinity of Sable Island; they are somewhat difficult to catch on a hook, 

 and also because of the smallness of their bodies, they are seldom if 

 ever used for bait. 



* Tlio following note I find in iiiyjonrnal under date of February 11, during the 

 I)rovalt',nce of a heavy gale on tlio Graad BaukvS which I was riding out at anchor: 

 " The little white gulls sit hovering on the water near the stern of the vessel, occa- 

 sionally rising on a wing to clear a breaking wave, or to pick xip any fish-ofl'al that 

 may be washed from the scuppers." 



tin my journal, under date of April 29,1879, I find the f()lh)wing note relative to 

 the departure of the winter gulls from the outer banks : "The little white gulls are 

 growing scarce, they leave for land about this tinuv." 



tThe 8i>eciinen alluded to was called an Arctic tern by Mr. Newcomb, who is my 

 authority in tliis matter. 



1 



