State Reports 79 



formal reports from the men employed, will be of interest and will give 

 some idea of the extent and value of the system. Warden Paul Kroegel, 

 who has charge of the Pelican Island Reservation, reports: During the 

 breeding season of 1903-4 the Pelicans deserted the large island of the 

 reservation where they had bred for many years past, and occupied some 

 small adjoining islands during the nesting season. Why they deserted their 

 ancestral home the warden could not determine. Mr. Chapman, who has 

 had a long acquaintance with this colony of Pelicans, having visited and 

 studied it several seasons, was of the opinion that the gradual killing of the 

 trees had caused the birds to abandon the island. The Pelicans usually 

 commence to gather about the Reservation early in November, and this 

 year the date was anxiously awaited in order to determine whether the 

 abandonment of the large island was permanent or not. A most interesting 

 fact in natural history developed as follows: The National Committee, in 

 its anxiety to prevent trespass on the reservation, had a very large sign 

 painted and set up on the big island. This was evidently the reason why 

 the Pelicans went to the adjoining islands. When the birds returned in 

 November, 1904, some four to five thousand in number. Warden Kroegel 

 watched their actions carefully, to learn, if possible, why the large island was 

 not occupied. He reported that the birds seemed restless and disturbed 

 about something on the island which prevented their occupancy. Thinking 

 that possibly the large sign was the trouble, it was taken down, and two 

 days after all of the birds were back on the island. On November 15, 

 about one hundred nests had been started, and the indications were that 

 laying will commence about the usual date, December first. 



Warden Guy M. Bradley is employed by the year and is continually 

 cruising in the launch 'Audubon' among the keys and islands at the 

 extreme southerly point of the state, or else is patrolling on foot the 

 swamps and everglades in that wild section. He covers some hundreds of 

 square miles. Frequent reports are made of his travels, with notes about 

 bird conditions. It is impossible to give the details in a published report, 

 but the Committee are satisfied that the results achieved are most excellent. 

 The warden writes that there are no less than nine nesting-places, — 

 rookeries, — within ten miles of his home. With the exception of the 

 Cuthbert rookery, these have not been disturbed. Formerly they were 'shot 

 out ' and robbed of eggs quite often by pleasure parties, pot-hunters and 

 plume -hunters. This section is a most interesting one and will well repay 

 a visit by any bird student or nature photographer. 



Warden Charles G. Johnson, of the Sand Key Light-House Station, 

 reports a very favorable year for the Gulls and Terns that breed near his 

 station. He and his assistant keeper prevent any landing on the breeding- 

 grounds during the nesting season, nor will they permit shooting thereafter. 

 Mr. Johnson reports also that the Key West markets do not now ofifer sea- 



