88 DuTCHER, Protection of Gulls and Terns. L lan 



easily seen approaching the island. Flat Hammock and Wico- 

 pesset birds should certainly receive full protection, being the two 

 largest colonies on Long Island Sound except those on Gardiners 

 Island. 



" In June, 1899, the Terns of both Wicopesset and Flat Ham- 

 mock were persecuted by plume hunters from Long Island. 

 Andrew E. Garde, an Associate Member of our Union, who went 

 to the island, ascertained the true state of affairs. He found sev- 

 eral dead terns that had been wounded and had died on Flat 

 Hammock, and I was afraid they had left the locality altogether ; 

 but on July 17, I received information through Mr. Ray, that a 

 large colony of terns was nesting on South Beach on Fishers 

 Island, and another at Barleyfield, Cove Beach, on the same 

 island. I was overjoyed and immediately went over and investi- 

 gated and found large numbers of nesting birds on both beaches. 



" The shooting on this island is leased to the Fishers Island 

 Sportsman's Club, and the gamekeepej of the club guards the 

 game faithfully. As there is no shooting allowed on the island 

 save by the Club, the plume hunters did not dare follow the 

 terns to their new nesting places. The terns are intelligent 

 enough to know that there is a place of refuge in case of need. 



" In the breeding season of 1900 the terns went back to their 

 old breeding grounds at Flat Hammock and Wicopesset. 



" In regard to Plum Island, as there is a garrison there in care of 

 the Government coast defense works, on which work still continues, 

 the birds have been driven away from their old nesting place. 

 This information is derived from Capt. Clark, who lives on the 

 island, and Capt. Jas. F. Smith of the steamer ' Manhanset,' 

 which touches daily at the island. 



" Great Gull Island, the old and famous breeding place of the 

 terns, owing to the garrison and buildings on it, is still totally 

 deserted by the terns ; only a few essayed to use one of the 

 extreme points for nesting purposes, but as the soldiers gave 

 them a warm reception they sought safer and more peaceful 

 quarters. 



" I regret to report that the plume hunters have also relent- 

 lessly followed the terns, and have shot them on their feeding- 

 grounds, the waters of the ' Race,' the waterway between Great 



