CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 361 



Outside of the gony (albatross) there is no bird to my knowledge 

 that pays as little attention to the storm tossed waters as the black brant. 

 On the 14th of December the sea was comparatively calm,, with thousands 

 of brants winging their way to the south and coming to rest in Padilla 

 Bay, near Hat and Saddle-Bag Islands. The wind gradually increased so 

 that at noon it had reached a velocity of approximately 50 miles, but this 

 terrific wind did not cause them any inconvenience or develop a flight of 

 birds, and all brant that were seen in the air were still approaching from 

 a northerly direction, boring southward at a terrific rate, and coming to rest 

 in apparent satisfaction among the flocks already feeding in Padilla Bay. 

 At the same time a flock of approximately 50 snow geese were seen upon 

 the horizon to the north, a distance of approximately six miles, but these 

 birds were in sight for twenty minutes, weaving back and forth against 

 the wind, and continually changing their elevation, depending upon the gusts 

 of wind, and finally disappearing to the south, skimming the waves. Brant 

 in a similar situation flew as straight as an arrow with a uniform speed that 

 would take them out of sight in about five minutes. A rough count of the 

 birds seen on the 14th, passing Point Williams on Samish Island, places 

 the figure at 7900. Only the southward bound birds were counted and there 

 could be little possibility of duplication, since during that period less than 

 fifty birds passed Point Williams, drifting northward. 



Hunters who periodically visited these grounds during the past season, 

 report that the migration reached the area only about the fifth of December, 

 and very few birds were taken until December 10th, when the daily kill in 

 the district would sometimes amount to fifty birds. They are not generally 

 sought after, except by a few limited hunters, who were properly equipped. On 

 December 13th, several bags were investigated, an aggregate of fourteen birds 

 scrutinized. They were all of the species of Branta lernicla nigricans,* and 

 with few exceptions were in prime condition. 



Generally speaking, it is the consensus of opinion amongst the gunners 

 who seek brant, that the present season is much too early to give them good 

 brant hunting, as the migration reaches this State on its sheltered waters only 

 a short period before the season closes [December 15]. The thought arises 

 that if this season is maintained generally through the west coast, it may con- 

 tribute a great deal to the maintenance of the abundance of black brant since 

 they can not then be overshot and they are not poached upon in this State 

 during the closed season, since any hunter preying upon them would be far 

 more conspicuous than a poacher on ducks that enter the fields and other 

 obscure places to meet their doom at the hands of a skulking poacher. 



Plans are going forward to collaborate with the State of California, whose 

 work is under the direction of James Moffitt, to take a general census on Feb- 

 ruary 10th to 12th, and there is little doubt that a quite accurate count can 

 be taken by the use of our field force at certain strategic spots. Fortunately 

 the interest in brant is being developed before their value as a game bird is 

 generally appreciated and remedial measures to perpetuate them, if inaugu- 

 rated in the near future, will be easily enforced as very limited resentment of 

 any type will need be combatted. * * * Field observations above recorded 

 were made to ascertain to what extent the brant are being hunted, and it was 

 found that the entire kill of brant this year throughout the State of Washing- 

 on, probably was less than one thousand birds. The Puget Sound area alone 

 shows records of about 470 birds killed, and, of course, there will be some not 

 generally reported or known of. The southern portion of the State, along the 

 coast, including Grays and Willapa harbors, have produced some birds, but 

 their number is unknown, and I believe the above figures would be extremely 

 liberal. It is doubtful if the returns requested of license holders will be even 

 as accurate, as many of the brant hunters take out parties of gunners on the 

 favorite grounds, and do not report their kill, as they feel the numbers which 

 they should record to be extremely high and derogatory to their continued 



* Dr. Joseph Grinnell, Director, University of California Museum of Verte- 

 brate Zoology, advised me on June 15, 1934, that E. J. Booth, Bellingham, Wash- 

 ington, sent a brant to him to be identified which he shot on the Samish Flats, 

 Skagit County, Washington, on December 10, 1933. Dr. Grinnell stated that this 

 bird Is possibly somewhat of an Intergrade between Branta bemicla nigricans and 

 Branta hernicla hrota, but that It is so far nearer the latter as properly to bear the 

 name hrota, the Atlantic or light-bellied brant. — James Moffitt. 



