iSSS.] Lucas on the Bird Rocks of the Gulf of St. La-vrencc. I •J ^ 



ly had the Murres suffered from this cause that many of the 

 ledges on the side of the roci-c where the gun was hred had been 

 swept ahnost clear of eggs."* 



Mr. Turbid, who very kindly afforded us all the assistance and 

 information in his power, told us that the birds were gradually 

 becoming used to the cannon and that the destruction from its 

 use was now comparatively small. 



In 1SS7, only six years later, not a single Gannet bred on the 

 Little Rock although perhaps, a hundred and fifty may have 

 found nesting places on the Pillar, while according to Mr. Tur- 

 bid's figures not more than 10,000 dwelt on the ledges of the 

 Great Rock. The decrease of the Gannets is most apparent, 

 but the smaller birds have doubtless suftered in the same pro- 

 portion. Scarce a day passes when the weather is at all favora- 

 ble, without a visit from some party of fishermen desirous, like 

 those we met at the Little Rock, of obtaining a few Murres for 

 their table. In fact, while we were on the rock, thi-ee men 

 landed on the westerly beach and opened fire on the Murres 

 perched along the overhanging ledges, killing some and wound- 

 ing more. 



Many barrels of eggs are also gathered during the season, so 

 that altogether the birds lead a precarious existence. Still a large 

 portion of the island is, practically, so inaccessible that unless 

 the feather hunters afflict this interesting spot with their pres- 

 ence the birds may continue to breed here in diminished numbers 

 for a long time to come. 



Besides that of the Bird Rocks the only large colony of Gannets 

 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is at Bonaventure Island, where, on 

 the lofty and vertical clifls of the eastern side, these birds breed 

 in a state of semi-security. Dr. Bryant inadvertently locates this 

 colony at Perc6 Rock, but although this curious and inaccessible 

 island is only a mile or so distant, and the birds breeding on its 

 summit are perfectly safe, not a single Gannet is to be found 

 among them. 



During the last twenty years the niunber of Gannets at Bona- 

 venture Island has greatly diminished, and Capt. J. W. Collins 

 told me when we visited the island in September, 18S7, that he 

 was surprised to see how the colony had fallen off. 



Brewster. Proc. Bost. Soc. iVat. Hist. \'ol., XXII, p. 410. 



