128 Dl;tcher, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. Tf n 



with food. A few young were with their parents three miles from 

 land. Here, as at Freeman's Rock, a great mortality among the 

 young was observed. There was at this island, at half tide, some 

 large pools, and a calm cove protected from the ceaseless surf, 

 and these, at the right stages of the tide, were filled with young 

 terns bathing like land birds, and evidently they were in the height 

 of enjoyment when thus engaged. In 1896 I visited this island 

 and recorded a fairly large group for the size of the place ; to-day 

 I judge the colony has doubled, and in view of the ease by which 

 this place could be given protection an overflow seems the natural 

 result. The island contains about 12 or 15 acres, and owing to 

 the absence of sheep is covered with a rank growth of grass. Mr. 

 Snow, the owner of the island, signified his willingness to lease 

 the island to the A. O.U., and would probably act as our warden." 



Capt. J. E. Hall, keeper of the Matinicus Rock Lighthouse, 

 reports that the terns were not disturbed at all, and that there 

 was a large increase ; he also states that there was an unusual 

 mortality among the young birds owing, he thinks, to the very 

 cold season and heavy rainfall which chilled the very young birds. 

 Mr. F. H. Herrick, a member of the Union, visited this island 

 for the Committee and estimates that this colony numbers about 

 3,500 birds. 



Capt. Mark Young, owner of and warden on No-Man's-Land 

 Island, reports as follows : " Not an egg has been taken nor a 

 Herring Gull killed in the colony I have charge of. The first 

 eggs were found May 15, and the first young bird June 8." Mr. 

 Herrick visited this island also, and states that Capt. Young takes 

 great interest in his birds and makes a good warden. He says : 

 "I spent some days on the island, July 11-14, and estimate the 

 number of birds at 3,000. Very few eggs were then to be seen, 

 but young in all stages, up to one and a half pounds; no chicks 

 had taken to the water at that period. I expected to find the 

 birds far wilder than at Great Duck Island, but could see little 

 difference in this respect. At either place they settled readily 

 within 20 or 2iO feet." 



Mr. A. H. Norton, who made an extended tour of investigation 

 along the Maine coast for the Protection Committee, reports that 

 a fair sized colony of terns still flourishes on the Eastern and 

 Western Barge Islands, near Mt. Desert Island. 



