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Economic Status. This order, being composed of large birds, all fish- 
eaters, and many of them frequenting inshore or inland waters in consider- 
able numbers, is open to a certain amount of suspicion as to its economic 
effect. However, no step should be taken against any species until careful 
investigation has proved its necessity. 
FAMILY—SULID&. GANNETS OR BOOBIES. 
General Description. Large birds, mostly white when adult, bill sharp and straight 
without hook or pronounced throat or gular pouch. 
Distinctions. The bill characters of this family serve to distinguish it from all except- 
ing Tropic Birds, one species of which has been taken off Newfoundland. As the Tropic 
Birds, however, have enormously elongated middle tail feathers there is little chance of 
confusion, even if they were not too rare in our waters to merit detailed consideration here. 
The Gannets are strictly marine birds never seen away from the sea 
except as stragglers. The family on the whole is tropical and enly one 
species occurs in Canada. : 
117. Gannet. SOLAN GOOSE. FR.—LE FOU DE BASSAN. (OLD FRENCH—J. CARTIER— 
MORGAUD) MARGOT. Sula bassana. L, 35. A completely-webbed swimmer with straight 
bill without pronounced hook or conspicuous throat or gular pouch. 
Distinctions. The bill characters are distinctive. The adult is pure white except for 
the black primaries and a rich creamy suffusion over the crown and hindneck. The young 
bird of the year is greyish-brown, lighter below, and each feather has a small white V at 
the tip that gives an even mottling over all. Several intermediate spotted stages occur 
between these plumages. 
Field Marks. Dazzling white body and black wing tips of the adult are distinctive. 
The habit of diving from the wing, entering the water head first like an arrow, and remain- 
ing under an appreciable length of time is also characteristic. Terns dive from the wing 
but they rise again almost immediately and seldom completely disappear from sight like 
the Gannet. Even were it otherwise the great difference in size would be diagnostic. 
aaa esting. In large communities on the rocky shelves of sea clifis; nests made of sea- 
weed. 
Distribution. Both sides of the north Atlantic, breeding in Canada only on Bird Rock 
off the Magdalen islands, and on Bonaventure island, Gaspe county, Quebec, both stations 
being in the gulf of St. Lawrence. 
The Gannet had at one time a much wider and commoner distribution 
than now, nesting as it did on many of the rocky islets on both sides of the 
north Atlantic. Of very slight value either for food or other uses, except 
in the most primitive communities, it has been driven from one breeding 
station after another until in the New World only two remain and, unless 
prompt measures are taken, these will likely go the way of the others. 
Economic Status. Though the Gannets have been accused of doing 
considerable damage to fishing interests their harmful effects have been 
much overestimated. The greater part of the life of the Gannets is spent 
on or near the deep sea. When they come inshore for breeding purposes 
they can make very little impression on the mighty shoals of herring and 
other fish they pursue. 
FAMILY—-PHALACROCORACID. CORMORANTS. 
General Description. Large birds of black or very dark coloration, with bills ending 
in a decided hook and with a small throat or gular pouch. 
Distinctions. Bill and small gular pouch are diagnostic. 
