GULLS 117 



examined, but, as the results differed consider- 

 ably from what was expected, the examination 

 was extended to twelve stations round Britain, 

 in order to check the local findings. Gull con- 

 tents were examined continuously from Janu- 

 ary 1st, 1913, to June 16th, 1914. My brother 

 (Colonel Ward) and I also spent ten days on 

 the deserted island of Bona, in order to observe 

 the feeding habits of gulls uninfluenced by the 

 methods of man. 



In giving the result of this examination 

 I will endeavour to group it so as to throw 

 some light on the three following ques- 

 tions : 



1. What influence have gulls upon the 

 fisheries round our shores? 



2. What influence have gulls upon our in- 

 land fisheries? 



3. Presuming it is acknowledged that gulls 

 do a certain amount of damage to our fisheries, 

 is this outbalanced by the benefit they confer, 

 on the agriculturist by the destruction of 

 injurious insects? 



I have described the destruction in a single 

 morning by flocks of kitti wakes and common 

 gulls in Aldeburgfa harbour, but this is obviously 



