o32 EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [22] 



utes they have apparently recovered from their fright; but another 

 discharge instantly demoralizes them again. During the violent gales 

 which are so frequent on the fishing-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 be on the wing watching for 

 the appearance of the oflfal 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 instantly 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 Newfouiulland 

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



Terns. 



The common tern (Sterna hirundo) Linn., occurs during summer in 

 limited numbers oru 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. aretica) 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, I^ewcomb 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 fishoflal is being thrown, 

 but they 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 smalluess of their bodies, they are seldom if 

 ever used for bait. 



* The following note I find in my journal under date of February 11, during the 

 prevalence of a heavy gale on the Grand Banks which I was riding out at anchor: 

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

 sionally rising on a wing to clear a brealcing wave, or to pick up any lish-ofltal that 

 may bo washed from the scuppers." 



tin nij^ journal, under date of April 29, 1879, I find tlie following 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 time." 



tThe specimen alluded to was called an Arctic tern by Mr. Newcomb, who is my 

 authority in this matter. 



