CALIFORNIA WATER BIRDS. 357 



on the floor at the back part of the cave, and when 

 pressed may be readily caught as they flounder towards 

 the entrance. Some of these finally succeed in getting 

 awing, others become swamped at the mouth of the cave 

 by the inrushing waves and are forced to dive to avoid 

 being carried upon the rocks. 



The eggers go over the rookeries systematically, the 

 outlying rocks and different portions of the main island 

 being visited on successive days, fresh eggs being thus 

 assured. Only one small isolated rock is reserved as 

 a breeding place, and upon this the Murres were so 

 crowded that a bird coming in from fishing could not 

 alight without disturbing the footing of others. There 

 were many situations on the main island where scarcely 

 any were seen. In some of these places, I learn from 

 Mr. W. Otto Emerson, a large population flourished 

 within the last decade. 



From Mr. W. A. Beeman, principal keeper of the 

 Farallon light-station, I ascertained that seven thousand 

 six hundred and forty-five dozen eggs were shipped to 

 San Francisco the present year.* At the last the price 

 dropped to twelve and a half cents a dozen. In 1884, 

 Mr. Emerson informs me, as many as three hundred 

 thousand eggs were gathered. The market became 

 glutted, one cargo being dumped into San Francisco Bay 

 and another abandoned on the island. In those days the 



* The number for each week of the season, ending July 16, is as fol- 

 lows: — 



First week 120 dozen. 



Second 



Third 



Fourth 



Fifth 



Sixth 



.1445 

 .2080 

 .1400 

 2000 

 . 600 



Total 7645 dozen. 



