CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 359 



of Game Lou Ovenden. As a result this gentleman delegated Arthur S. 

 Einarsen, then of the Department, to gather all possible information on 

 the subject during the season and to transmit same to me. During the 

 fall hunting season, Einarsen devoted much time to this detail and 

 prepared a masterly report on the subject under date of December 

 18, 1933, which he forwarded to the writer with permission to use in 

 whole or in part in connection with the present paper. We are there- 

 fore greatly pleased and highly obligated to the Washington Depart- 

 ment of Game to quote from Einarsen 's report as follows: 



Black brant {Branta bernicla nigricans) are found in varying abundance 

 within the territorial limits of the State of Washington during the different 

 seasons of the year. 



With the opening of the shooting season, on October 16. 1933, very few 

 reports were made of bhick brant being seen on the opening day, although 

 many snow geese {Chen hyjierboreus) , a few Canadian honlcers (Branta 

 canadensis), and also a scattering of whistling swan (Cygnus columhianus) , 

 were seen on the opening day. On the Skagit Flats three geese were shot — 

 one a snow goose, and the other two Canadian geese. Following through the 

 season there were no rei)orts of an abundance of brant until about November 

 1st, when visitors to the ocean coast, between Grays Harbor and the Columbia 

 River, reported them in considerable numbers, feeding along the coast line. 

 As excellent hunting can be enjoyed in both Grays and AVillapa harbors as 

 soon as the black brant enter these areas to feed, their actions were closely 

 watched, and very few entered the bays until about Thanksgiving time when 

 the majority of the birds still favored the open ocean along the coast. It was 

 not possible for me to make personal observation of their numbers and actions 

 but through the word of hunters there seems to be little doubt that such 

 conditions existed. 



In the northern portion of the State brant can be expected to congre- 

 gate, chiefly in the following areas : The Gulf of Georgia, near Point Roberts 

 and Blaine, Bellingham Bay, Samish Bay, Padilla Bay, Bellingham Channel, 

 Rosario Straits, the Straits of Juan de Fuca, Livingston Bay and Hood Canal. 



A continual contact maintained with the shooting fraternity, gave little 

 encouragement until about November 15th, when a few birds were reported 

 from the Livingston Bay area, and with scattei-ed reports of increasing 

 numbers in Bellingham Bay, where about November 23d, a few birds were taken. 

 On December 2d and 3d a hasty trip along Hood Canal and the Straits 

 of Juan de Fuca, in the Dungeness and Protection Island districts revealed 

 vei-y few birds. Nonnally these areas are highly favored, but on these dates 

 the annual winter residents had not arrived to a noticeable degree. Communi- 

 cating with boatmen employed on regular runs through the districts where 

 brant might be exijected to appear, it was generally reported that no great 

 numbers were apparent until about December 1st, and up to date have been 

 increasing with rapid strides. 



Going into the field in the northern district on Puget Sound, on 

 December 12th, the Blaine area on the Gulf of Georgia produced fair numbex-s 

 of birds. As there is considerable high ground to the south of Blaine, over- 

 looking the Gulf of Georgia, by means of field glasses, approximately 30 

 small flocks, ranging in numbers from 10 to 100, could be seen feeding on 

 the (iulf. These waters are not hunted to any degree, and as there are a 

 few sand spits on the Lummi Indian Reservation, which are not open to 

 shooting by the general public, they are favorite resting areas for the brant. 



On December 13th Padilla Bay and Samish Bay claimed my attention, 

 and these areas were found to be occupied by brant in such numbers that 

 plans were made to follow them closely on the following day. In ghmcing 

 at the attached sketch [see map, Fig. 136] maybe it will be noticed that 

 there is an abundance of open water and that eel grass flats abound in the 

 district, and later investigation of the crops of five brant dissected revealed 

 the presence of nothing but eel-grass in their diet. The more limited area 

 lies to the south in the Padilla Bay district, and it was found that there 

 is a definite daily migration, beginning at daylight in the morning, from the 

 northern areas when hundreds of flocks fly into Padilla Bay, almost touching 



