Vol. XIX 

 1902 



I DuTCHER, Protection of Gulls and Terns. AC 



these islands are wooded and two are simply masses of granite. 

 The birds breeding were Herring Gulls {Larus argentatus smith- 

 sonianus), Terns [Sterna /liriindo et paradisa;a), Black Ducks {Anas 

 obsciira), Black Gui\\e.mots {Cepph us gry He) , and Spotted Sand- 

 pipers [Actitis 7nacularia). As these islands are a long distance 

 from the mainland, very little trouble was experienced in protect- 

 ing the birds and their eggs, and the warden reports that no old 

 or young birds were killed, nor were any eggs taken. 



Capt. Hall estimates that the number of young birds raised 

 during the present season was as follows : Herring Gulls, 3000 ; 

 Terns, 4000; Black Ducks, 50; Black Guillemots, 50. 



Chas. Holt, keeper of the Nash Island Light, had charge of the 

 breeding colony of Herring Gulls on Cone Island, some 800 in 

 number. Unfortunately there was an increase of only about 100 

 birds ; the reason for this being that the owners of the island, a 

 mother and three daughters, seriously object to having the birds 

 use the island as a home. They keep a lai'ge flock of sheep on 

 the island during the whole year, in fact too many for the island 

 to maintain. It is claimed by the owners that the gulls destroy 

 the grass, or render it unfit for the sheep to eat, and they have 

 used every means to driv^ the birds away, even going so far as to 

 place upon the island four foxes, just before the breeding season, 

 hoping they would destroy the eggs and young birds. This result 

 may obtain during some sixty days in the year, but it is anticipated 

 that next spring the foxes will destroy many newly born lambs. 

 As a matter of fact, the gulls are probably of great benefit to the 

 island, as the deposits of guano serve to enrich the land, and even 

 though the grass is temporarily rendered distasteful to the sheep, 

 during the breeding season, yet the fall rains will wash and 

 sweeten the grass and cany the fertilizing properties to the roots. 



Wm. C. Gott, keeper of the Pond Island Light, protected a 

 large colony of Black-crowned Night Herons [Nydicoraxnycticorax 

 nainus) on the Douglas Islands ; he states that there was a nor- 

 mal increase, as the birds were not disturbed, owing to the fact 

 that he thoroughly posted the island with warning notices. 



Wm. D. Upton, keeper of the Petit Manan Light, had charge of 

 a small island called Egg Rock, on which a few terns bred ; these 

 were not disturbed at all and the increase was normal. 



