Reports of Field Agents 



399, 



During the summer your agent made one of his periodic trips of inspection 

 of many of the bird colonies on the coast of Maine that have for many years 

 enjoyed the special protection afforded by the wardens of the National Associa- 

 tion of Audubon Societies. Hon. Willis E. Parsons, Commissioner of Inland 

 Fisheries and Game in the state of Maine, kindly cooperated in this under- 

 taking by detailing Warden H. L. Spinney, of Bath, to take me in one of the 

 state boats to such places as I desired to go. In the report which is now on file 

 in the home office of the National Association I gave details of the very great 

 increase in the breeding colonies of Herring Gulls and the healthy condition of 

 the colonies of Terns and Black Guillemots. I was sorry to find that the 

 destruction of Leach's Petrels by dogs and cats on their rookery islands con- 

 tinues to an alarming extent. Young Eider Ducks were seen, but I regret to 

 say that it appears that after nearly twenty years of protection by the National 

 Association these birds have not held their own on the coast of Maine. 



