316 EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] 



set, and diving in the wake of the boat, after the sinking gear, make 

 desperate endeavors to tear the bait from the hooks. In these attempts 

 they are often successful, much to the chagrin of the fishermen whose 

 chances for catching fish are thus materially diminished by these daring 

 robbers.* 



The voracity and fearlessness which are thus so strikingly displayed 

 by the hagdon offers the fishermen an opportunity to administer what 

 they consider retributive justice, since the capture of these birds is thus 

 made a comparatively easy task. Formerly, as has been stated, when 

 shack-fishing was extensively carried on by the Grand Bank codfisher- 

 men, great numbers of Fuffinus were caught for bait with hook and line. 

 Before proceeding to describe the methods of capture I shall refer to the 

 food of these birds. From my observations I am of the opinion that the 

 hag subsists chiefly on squid, which, of course, it catches at or near the 

 surface of the water. I have opened many hundreds of them, and have 

 never, to my recollection, failed to find in their stomachs either portions 

 of the squid, or, at least, squids' bills. It may be interesting also to 

 mention the fact that in the fall of 1875, when the giant Cephalopods, or 

 " big squid," were found on the eastern part of the Grand Bank between 

 the parallels 44° and 45° north latitude, and the meridians of 49^ 30' 

 and 50° 30' west longitude, flocks of hagdons were invariably found feed- 

 ing on the dead '" devil-fish " which were floating on the water. In 

 nearly all cases these "big squid" Avere found in a mutilated condi- 

 tion, usually with their tentacles eaten off almost to their heads, and 

 the fishermen soon learned to detect their presence by the large flocks 

 of birds collected about them. The small species of fish which frequent 

 the waters of the eastern fishing-banks, such as the laut, capelin, etc., 

 also furnish Pvffinus with a j^ortion of its food. But birds of this species, 

 as well as most all others found at sea, are excessively fond of oily food, 

 and especially the livers of the Gadidce, cod, hake, etc., and this extreme 

 fondness for codfish livers, which they swallow with great avidity, ren- 

 ders their capture possible by the fishermen with hook and line. " Hag- 

 fishing," as it is called, can be carried on either from the side of a 

 schooner or from dories, though usually better results are obtained by 

 the men going out in the latter at some distance from the vessel. When 

 it is desirable to obtain these birds for bait the morning is usually se- 

 lected to effect their capture, since at that time they are generally more 

 eager for food than later in the day, when they are frequently gorged 

 with the oflal thrown from the fishing vessels, or with food obtained 

 from other sources. It is generally the case, therefore, that two men 

 engaged in hauling a trawl in a dory, after having obtained a sufficient 

 number of cod to supply them with the requisite amount of livers, stop 



*My brother. Capt. D. E. Collins, tells me that on several occasions he distinctly 

 recollects that hagdons were canght on tra'wn-lines belonging to his vessel, the hooks 

 having fastened in the beak or throat of the greedy birds, which had swallowed the 

 bait before they had torn it from the sinking gear. 



