t62 Dutcher, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. l_jan. 



the season and the delay incident to communicating with the shore 

 it is doubtful if this is done. If another year could be begun free 

 from such drawbacks it is probable that the birds would abun- 

 dantly prosper. 



"Probably 3000 terns are still upon the two islands. As the 

 Seal Island is covered with grass the young are not easy to find, 

 and very few were seen ; some had already flown, as I saw them 

 at sea. 



" The Light is supported by the Dominion Government and it 

 seems quite important to impress upon, not only the keepers of the 

 lights, but also the inspector of the district, the need of protecting 

 the birds here now. The keepers are furnished not only with 

 rations but drinking water from ashore, requiring frequent trips of 

 the supply vessel. The discipline is less strict than on our light- 

 house boats and the crews, in part at least, wander over the island 

 at will, and it was insinuated that the birds are the sufferers. I 

 posted three notices here and one on Gull Rock as you wished. 



"This island is the location of some of the largest Petrel colo- 

 nies of Maine, the birds burrowing into the soft earth on every 

 part of the island. These had suffered some destruction, as the 

 wings of a number were seen near the buildings, no doubt having 

 been caught by the cat, as the burrows had not been disturbed. 



"Owing to the distance of this place from any shelter, sailing 

 men are not willing to remain out over night, and indeed few are 

 willing even to go there except with perfect weather conditions. 



"At five p. M. we started on our return, reaching Cross Island 

 at midnight. Curiously enough, the next day dawned calm, and 

 a trip to the Seal Island would have been impossible. 



"This morning Capt. Small took me over to the Old Man 

 Island where we were able to land and examine the condition of 

 the gull colony. Everywhere among the trees the ground is 

 covered with a dense tangle of brambles and weeds making travel 

 very difficult. There were here no indications of any disturbance 

 of the gulls or their nests. The latier were placed along the shore 

 on the edge of the precipice and on shelves of the cliffs. Search 

 among the weeds showed many young concealed there. This 

 island is in direct view of Capt. Small's station. 



"Capt. Small told me that a good-sized colony of Eider Ducks 



