BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 185 



has diminished their numbers (Huntington, 1893). There is 

 evidence that long before this time Geese and Brant had 

 decreased in those waters. Prime (IS-lo) makes the follow- 

 ing statement in his history of Long Island. "Upon the re- 

 turn of cold weather, these [the wild-fowl] with the numerous 

 progeny which they have reared, return and bespeckle the 

 harbours and bays, which constantly resound with their 

 untiring cackle. There is reason, however, to believe that 

 some of these species, particularly the wild-goose, are greatly 

 diminished in number, from what they were formerly. 

 Many persons now living, can distinctly recollect the time 

 when, both spring and fall, the passage of large flocks of 

 geese over the island, at almost any point, was a matter of 

 daily, and sometimes hourly occurrence. But now, it is a 

 sight that is rarely witnessed. The same remark is applica- 

 ble to a smaller species of fowl, though larger than the duck, 

 commonly distinguished by the name of Brant. All the 

 larger kinds of wild fowl are evidently scarcer, than they were 

 formerly. The increased population of the country, and the 

 improved skill and implements of gunning, probably account 

 for the fact." ^ 



Old gunners have told me that Brant were very plenti- 

 ful all along our shores sixty to seventy-five years ago. Mr. 

 William C. Peterson, formerly of Marshfield, Mass., says that 

 about the year 1855, during a southeasterly storm in the fall, 

 myriads of Brant came in from seaward and flew up across 

 Plymouth beach to Duxbury Bay. He has never seen such a 

 flight since, but used to see more in fall than in spring. About 

 Thanksgiving time in 187'-2, or thereabouts, more than one 

 hundred big flocks came in during a storm; as near as he 

 could estimate there were about ten thousand birds. He has 

 not seen so large a flight since, and says they rarely see very 

 many there now. Mr. Elbridge Gerry, a respected citizen 

 of Stoneham, Mass, who hunted along the coast from 1835 

 to 1900, said (1904) that Brant were few of late years, even 

 at Chatham, as compared with their former numbers. Dr. 

 L. C. Jones of Maiden says that Brant used to be common in 



I Prime, Nathaniel S.: History of Long Island, 1845, Part 1, p. 21. 



