Vol. XXI 

 1904 



~| DuTCHER, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. I 63 



breed here. On this particular morning (Aug. 3), none of the 

 birds were at the island, only one having been seen in the channel 

 half way across to Cross Island. The morning previous, how- 

 ever, as I sailed for Machias Seal Island, about a dozen females 

 were seen close to the shore of the Old Man, and flew about as 

 we passed it. It affords secure concealment for their nests, none 

 of which we saw. I was told by two other men, Capt. Fred Wal- 

 den of Cross Island, and Capt. Ackley of Cutter, neither having 

 any knowledge of Capt. Small's statement, that this duck breeds 

 on the Old Man. Unmolested ducks would have been hatched 

 some time previous to this visit, so no time was spent in looking 

 for their nests. 



" On the same morning we visited the Double Headed Shot. 

 The outer one of these islands only is inhabited by the gulls, per- 

 haps fifty in number. This colony, although near Capt. Small's 

 station, is not increasing. My attention was attracted to the signs 

 of minks on this island, and as it is said that ground or beach 

 nesting birds cannot increase where these mammals exist, I was 

 led to account for the small number of gulls here through this 

 cause. It is to be expected that this island will be abandoned by 

 the birds in a short time. 



"On August 8 I inspected the last colony, that at Bluff Island 

 in Saco Bay. This is a colony of Common Terns, probably num- 

 bering now nearly a thousand. Strattons Island, which is close at 

 hand, is not inhabited by the birds. These terns have long been 

 protected by the owner of the island, Mr. Jordan. Their feeding 

 grounds extend from near the Saco River to Cape Elizabeth, the 

 largest number resorting to the river mouths at the Scarborough 

 marshes. At the time of my visit large numbers of the young 

 were fishing here with their parents, and at low water they sat in 

 large numbers upon exposed sand spits. On the island some 

 young were just hatching, and all stages of growth were still to be 

 found. Quite a number of abandoned nests with faded eggs were 

 found. Haying operations were in progress and a number of dead 

 young were found which had been accidentally killed. Upon the 

 whole the colony was in good condition and the increase has been 

 a positive one. 



"I took the opportunity of posting muslin warning notices on 

 all of the islands visited. 



