318 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES [8] 



vided with a line 5 or 6 fathoms in length, and a small hook, such as 

 is ordinarily used for catching mackerel. The bait, consisting of 

 pieces of codfish liver, is large enough to float the hook as well as to 

 cover its point. The hooks are baited and thrown out as soon as a flock 

 of hagdons have collected about the boat, and there also may be, and 

 generally are, birds of other species. Should there be a large number 

 of hags, and more especially if they have been without food for a short 

 time, they display an almost indescribable voracity. In their eager- 

 ness to obtain the large pieces of liver, which they swallow at a gulp, 

 as they fight among themselves, they do not seem to care whether 

 a hook is concealed within the bait or not. At such times the birds 

 may be easily caught, and are rapidly pulled in by the fishermen, who 

 usually derive much gratification from the sport, not only from the ex- 

 citement it aflbrds, but also on account of the perspactive profits which 

 may result in obtaining a good supply of birds for bait. When a victim 

 has been hooked, and is being pulled towards the boat, it struggles 

 most energetically to make its escape by vainly endeavoring to rise in 

 the air, or by spreading out its feet to hold itself back as much as pos- 

 sible as it is dragged unceremoniously over the water, while its vocifer- 

 ous companions follow after it, attempting to snatch away the piece of 

 liver with which it has been decoyed. At times a bird may succeed in 

 disengaging the hook from its beak, but usually the barbed point is well 

 fastened and the hag is landed in the boat. A fisjierman then places it 

 under his left arm to prevent its struggles, and grasping the head of 

 the unfortunate bii"d with his right hand he crushes its skull with his 

 teeth. Or he may try to deprive his victim of lile by wringing its 

 neck, striking it on the head with a "gob stick," etc. This may con- 

 tinue until one hundred or perhaps two hundred birds are captured, 

 but usually not so many. A comparatively short time passes before 

 some of the birds become gorged with the pieces of liver which they have 

 obtained, and then they exhibit the greatest cunning in eluding capture. 

 They seem to be fully conscious of the fact that within the liver there 

 is concealed something which, for their own good, they should avoid. 

 With a wonderful instinct that almost approaches reason, they cautiously 

 approach and take hold of the bait with the tips of their bills, and by 

 flapping their wings, endeavor to tear it to pieces. In this maneuver 

 the birds are often successful, and as a reward for their enterprise they 

 secure a good lunch, which they hasten to devour, as the disappointed 

 and disgruntled fisherman rebaits his hook with the hope of decoying 

 some less wary individuals. It frequently happens, however, that a 

 skillful "bait stealer" renders abortive all the attempts of the fishermen 

 to effect its capture, while at the same time it will fight desperately with 

 its intruding companions, to keep t]iem away until it has filled itself to 

 repletion. Having satiated itself until scarcely able to clear the water, 

 it quietly drifts to leeward at a safe distance from the boat, floating 

 upon the waves to await the digestion of its food, and apparently to 



