QA DuTCHER, Protection of Gulls and Terns. Ljan 



much as an eyelid. Three persons were close by watching the 

 young bird and overhead was the parent tern warning the young 

 one not to move. 



At the mouth of Narraguagus Bay on Douglass Island, a colony 

 of terns numbering some two thousand was protected by Charles 

 Huckins. He reports that he experienced no trouble whatever 

 during the season and that the normal increase in the colony took 

 place. The island was well posted and the notices caused a num- 

 ber of persons to apply to Mr. Huckins to ascertain the exact 

 text of the law. 



The only other colony of terns protected was a small one on 

 Libby Island, at the mouth of Machias Bay. This was under the 

 care of warden Capt. M. W. Ackley of Cutler. This island having 

 a lighthouse upon it makes it a very easy one to protect. 



The Committee believes that it is perfectly feasible and entirely 

 possible for terns on the coast of Maine to become as abun- 

 dant as formerly. The present law protects them, and should your 

 Committee be continued, it is intended to enforce the law by paid 

 wardens, and also to endeavor to enlist the sympathies and activi- 

 ties of citizens of Maine, especially those resident along the coast, 

 in the preservation of the beautiful and graceful sea swallows that 

 add so much to the charm of the littoral scenery. 



Herring Gulls are probably more numerous than terns on the 

 Maine coast although many more gulls than terns were shot dur- 

 ing the season of 1899. The writer had a long interview with an 

 Indian, a member of the Quoddy tribe, who stated that not less 

 than ten thousand were killed last year; he said that the gulls 

 were shot entirely for millinery purposes and that they were not 

 all the big white gulls (Z. argentatiis smiths oniamis) , but some were 

 smaller. These were probably Ring-bills {Larus delawarensis) , 

 Kittiwakes {Hissa tridadyld) , and Bonaparte's {Larus Philadel- 

 phia), that were secured during migration ; he was asked particu- 

 larly whether many of the smallest white gulls (terns) were shot 

 and he replied " No," because they did not bring so large a price. 

 He informed the writer that purchasing agents from New York and 

 Boston millinery firms visited the Maine coast in 1899 to secure 

 gull-plumage. The competition between these agents was so keen 

 that the price which started at four dollars per dozen soon rose to 



