96 USGS/BRD/ITR-2000-0012 



eggs were harvested in 1885-86 (Bryant 1888, Palmer 

 1 900). In 1 887, 300,000 eggs were collected, the largest 

 harvest in several years (Emerson 1904). Greene ( 1 892) 

 noted that close to 1 80,000 eggs were harvested in 1 892. 

 Emerson (1904) reported similar annual harvests from 

 1 888 to 1 895. By July 1 896, 9 1 ,740 eggs were harvested 

 and the retail price had dropped to $0.125 per dozen. 

 Extensive egging at the North Farallon Islands also 

 occurred in 1896 and the "crop was said to be larger 

 than that of South Farallon" (Loomis 1896). Bryant 

 (1888) had first reported murres breeding on the North 

 Farallon Islands although it had been known much 

 earlier that seabirds bred there in large numbers. In fact, 

 egging may have occurred there in 1863 (Brown 1999). 

 In early July 1 899, at least 23 eggs were collected by 

 fishermen at the North Farallon Islands and obtained by 

 D. A. Cohen for his egg collection; eight of these eggs 

 are currently housed in the collection at the Western 

 Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology (WFVZ) , Camarillo, 

 California (WFVZ Nos. 117,672-117,679). Loomis 

 encouraged the American Ornithologists' Union and 

 the California Academy of Sciences to take actions to 

 protect the murres and other seabirds (Dutcher 1897; 

 White 1995). The Lighthouse Board responded to a 

 letter from the American Ornithologists' Union and 

 prohibited egging by lighthouse keepers and all others 

 at the Farallon Islands in November or December 1 896 

 (Anonymous 1897; Dutcher 1898; Palmer 1900). 



Despite protection, Emerson (1904) noted the loss 

 of several murre breeding areas on the South Farallon 

 Islands between 1887 and 1903 and considered that "a 

 great decrease in the laying of the murres had taken 

 place on South Farallone, and I was prepared to note a 

 corresponding change in the abundance of murres." 

 Illegal egging continued, although at lower levels, until 

 at least 1904 (Lastreto 1930; Doughty 1971; White 

 1995). Additional evidence of continued egging is 

 found in the WFVZ collection. On 22 June 1 897, W. E. 

 Snyder obtained at least one egg (set number 72) that 

 had been "collected by market eggers" (WFVZ No. 692). 

 On 8 July 1 898, D. De Groot bought at least five eggs 

 (set numbers 3-7) "in the San Francisco market" (WFVZ 

 Nos. 45,808-45, 810; 45,812-45,813). On 28 June 

 1901, J. Mailliard of San Francisco purchased at least 

 four eggs (set numbers 2-5) "in market" (WFVZ No. 

 112,939). 



In addition to egging, continual human occupation 

 of the South Farallon Islands since 1853 probably 

 contributed to a decline in the size of the murre colony 

 because of breeding habitat changes and disturbance 

 from island personnel, children, dogs, cats, and livestock. 

 Island habitats were changed by the construction of 

 numerous rock walls (e.g., pathways to and foundation 



for the lighthouse, the "Farallon Railroad" bed, various 

 rock walls around buildings and cisterns) and buildings 

 (e.g., egg storage areas, the original lighthouse keepers' 

 "Stone House") using rocks collected from around the 

 island, especially from breeding slopes on Lighthouse 

 Hill where rocks are abundant. Such rock-wall building 

 construction continued until about 1905 when the 

 current "Carpenter's Shop" was constructed (P. White, 

 personal communication). Guano harvesting also 

 occurred (Barlow 1897). The human population 

 numbered at least 20 people in 1898 (White 1995), and 

 the loss of breeding areas above the lighthouse keeper 

 houses and other areas, noticed between 1 887 and 1 903 

 (Emerson 1904) and later, probably resulted in some 

 degree from human disturbance (Dawson 1923). In fact, 

 many breeding areas probably were lost well before 

 1887. Weather stations were built near murre breeding 

 areas and staffed by additional personnel in 1902 near 

 Jordan Channel and in 1905 near Shubrick Point (P. 

 White, personal communication). These stations resulted 

 in greater human access to West End Island (involving a 

 walking bridge) and the Shubrick Point area of 

 Southeast Farallon Island. However, many thousands of 

 murres were still noted in 1 903-04 (Emerson 1 904; Ray 

 1904). 



Human Impacts on the Farallon Islands 

 in the Early Twentieth Century 



In addition to the impacts of oil pollution on the 

 murre colony (Chapter 3), island personnel and facilities 

 continued to expand at the South Farallon Islands. 

 During World War I, 26 Marines were stationed on the 

 island and a naval radio compass station continued to 

 operate after the war. During World War II, the island 

 population had grown to 78 people, although only 17 

 people remained by 1953 (White 1995). One positive 

 action taken during the early twentieth century was the 

 creation in 1909 of the Farallon Reservation, which 

 was to be "a preserve and breeding ground for native 

 birds" (White 1995). This reservation, however, only 

 protected colonies on the North Farallon Islands (i.e., 

 the South Farallon Islands were not added until 1969, 

 see later). It is not known why President Roosevelt took 

 this action but it presumably was related to heavy 

 impacts to murre colonies at both the South and North 

 Farallon Islands noted by Loomis (1896), previous 

 efforts to stop egging at the South Farallon Islands, and 

 increasing efforts to protect wild birds in the United 

 States. In particular, earlier efforts by W. L. Finley, W. L. 

 Dawson, and others to protect seabird colonies in 

 Oregon and Washington undoubtedly influenced 

 Roosevelt's decision to establish national wildlife 

 refuges. 



