PAPERS ON BIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE 71 



A TRIP AMONG THE BIRD ISLANDS OF THE PA- 

 CIFIC COAST OF WASHINGTON 

 Prof. Albert B, Reagan, Kayenta. Arizona 



One bright morning we left Neah Bay, Washington, for 

 a trip among the Roosevelt island bird reserves skirting the 

 Olympic peninsula. We made for the lighthouse at Tatoosh 

 island as we had mail for the government people there. As 

 we neared it, the sea rose and fell and, with considerable 

 effort, we lowered a boat which finally made shore amid the 

 squawking of birds and the glad welcome of the life saving 

 people. After a few minutes stay in the vicinity of this is- 

 land, we sailed out over the halibut banks where the Indian 

 creator Kwatte is alleged to have killed the destroyer Sub- 

 bus. As we were sailing over the placid waters watching 

 the Indians haul up their fish, our Indian guide said : 



"We are on sacred waters. This was the home of the 

 great evil one, Subbus. a monster shark-like animal of the 

 sea. Being advised about this beast's destroying all the fish 

 of the ocean and even swallowing down whole canoe loads 

 of men, canoe and all, Kwatte decided to kill him. So he 

 came to the shores of this peninsula and built a dugout 

 canoe of large size. This he filled with water. Into it he 

 then threw heated rocks till the water was boiling hot. 

 Then he would dip his body into the heated water as long as 

 he could stand it. Again and again he repeated this per- 

 formance. He was practicing in preparing himself to stand 

 great heat; for Subbus, who was very hot inside, was to 

 swallow him. 



"When he had everjrthing ready and had sufliciently 

 proved himself against heat, he shoved his canoe out into 

 the water. He then put his paddles into it. He also swung 

 his sack of clamshell knives at his side where he could 

 readily get the knives when needed. Then he got into the 

 canoe and paddled out over the 'banks.' " 



"You know," continued the guide, "Subbus lay on the 

 bottom of the sea and drew the water down through his 

 mouth with such force while sieving it to get something to 

 eat that a great whirlpool formed from the surface of the 



