^°''i^T^^n DuTCHER, Protection of Gulls and Terns. 9 1 



sioners. The two largest gull colonies are located on No-mans-land 

 and Great and Little Duck Islands. The first two islands are 

 owned by citizens of Maine, and in each instance the owners were 

 secured as wardens. By applying the law against trespass, the 

 Committee was enabled to absolutely protect the gulls breeding 

 on these islands during the past season. Little Duck Island is 

 owned by a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y., Mr. A. B. Richardson, 

 who very gladly gave the Committee a full power of attorney to act 

 for him after he was informed of the nature of our efforts. Mr. 

 DriscoU, the owner and warden of Great Duck Island, was given 

 authority to prevent trespass on the adjoining island, Little Duck. 

 Seven paid wardens were employed in the State, and in addition 

 three light-keepers volunteered their services, with the consent of 

 the Lighthouse Board at Washington, D. C. 



Mr. J. Merton Swain, a member of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, who resides in Portland and who is particularly well in- 

 formed regarding the birds of his vicinity, very kindly relieved the 

 Committee of all details of work in his locality. 



In Casco Bay there are only two colonies of terns left, which 

 breed on Bluff and Stratton Islands. These were cared for by 

 Capt. George E. Cushman who was regularly appointed a warden 

 by the Game Commissioners of Maine, his salary being paid from 

 the Thayer fund. He rendered excellent service, and reports that 

 about five hundred birds arrived on May 25 and that the colony, 

 he should judge, doubled itself during the season ending Septem- 

 ber 20 ; he only had occasion to arrest one man who had shot 

 and had in his possession eight birds ; he was convicted and paid 

 his fine into the State Treasury. On another occasion he pre- 

 vented shooting, and he also feels confident that no eggs were 

 taken. Warning notices were supplied by the Committee and 

 were posted at this breeding ground and the villages adjacent. 

 This was also done along the whole coast, some hundreds of large 

 posters being distributed in this manner. 



Mr. H. L. Spinney of the Sequins Island Lighthouse, at the 

 mouth of the Kennebec River, states that the extermination of the 

 terns of Sagadahoc County was completed in 1896. He writes : 

 " I am much gratified to note during the past season the obvious 

 results of the protection now being given. During a number of 



