°' ^^n DuTCHER, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. 12 7 



V 



igo4 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 PELICAN ISLAND RESERVATION. 



(Established by Executive Order, March 14, 1903.) 



No Trespassing Allowed, nor Firearms Permitted on the Island. 



The Birds Must Not Be Disturbed. 



Persons Desiring to Land Must Obtain Permission From the 



Warden at Sebastian. 



By order of 



James Wilson, 

 Secretary of Agriculture. 



The fact that this island is a reservation was advertised in the 

 local press and the result has been most satisfactory, as the 

 following report made by Mr. Kroegel shows : 



Sebastian, Fla., Aug. 25, 1903. 



Department of Agriculture, Biological Survey, 



Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chief of Division. 



Dear Sir : 



By request of Mr. William Dutcher, of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, I beg to report that the nesting season on the Pelican Island Res- 

 ervation is now over. It has been one of the longest seasons known, 

 commencing Dec. ist and ending July last. During the season there have 

 been between three and four thousand young birds raised, as near as I 

 could judge. I have endeavored to carry out the rules laid down for the 

 protection of the island to the best of my ability, and am glad to say that 

 I have been fairly successful in preventing trespassing. Of course the 

 amount at present available will not allow me to keep as close a watch on 

 the island as should be, but the mere fact that some one has the oversight 

 of the island is enough to prevent serious depredations. I will of course 

 keep an eye on the island until nesting starts again, so that what birds 

 remain near the island will not be molested. 

 Yours respectfully, 



(Signed) P. Kroegel. 



The following letter from Mr. C. W. Beebe, of the New York 

 Zoological Society, under date of New York City, Sept. 30, 1903, 

 confirms the report of Warden Kroegel. He says : 



"Let me congratulate you on the success attending the protec- 

 tion of the Brown Pelicans at their breeding resort on Pelican 

 Island in the Indian River, Florida. 



