LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN PETRELS AND PELICANS. 69 



the bubbles made by the oars, which these winged rangers seem to 

 imagine some kind of food beneath the surface of the water. They 

 will also persistently follow a dory from which a trawl is being set, 

 and diving in the wake of the boat, after the sinking gear, make des- 

 perate endeavors to tear the bait f roin the hooks." He states in a 

 note that his brother in hauling trawls had found shearwaters caught 

 by the hooks in their endeavors to steal the bait. 

 Audubon (1840) tells us that: 



Two that had been caught with hooks, walked as well as ducks, and made no 

 pretence of sitting on their rumps, as some writers have said they do. On being 

 approached, they opened their bills, raised their feathers, and squirted an oily 

 substance through their nostrils, which they continued to do when held in the 

 hand, at the same time scratching with their sharp claws and bills. They refused 

 all sorts of food ; and as they were unpleasant as pets, they were set at liberty. 

 To my great surprise, instead of flying directly off, as I expected, they launched 

 toward the water, dived several yards obUquely, and on coming to the surface 

 splashed and- washed themselves for several minutes before they took- to wing, 

 when they flew away with their usual ease and grace. 



The vocal performances of the greater shearwater are limited to 

 harsh cries and screams which they emit when eager for food. 

 Whether they have a nuptial song or not is unknown. 



The eagerness of these birds for food is so great that they seem to 

 be devoid of all fear of man and recklessly approach close to the boat 

 from which the food supply comes. At such times they fight with 

 other birds of their own or different species with great vigor. This 

 pugnacity has led in times past to a cruel sport by fishermen which is 

 thus described by Captain Collins (1884) : 



Perhaps a dozen or more hags may be caught, and having been put in a hogs- 

 head, tub, or in a "gurry pan," on the. deck of the vessel, the flshei?men bring 

 about an internecine war by stirring them up with a stick. At such times the 

 birds evidently imagine that their comrades are avowed enemies, and, pitching 

 into their nearest neighbors, a general flght and terrible commotion ensues, 

 while the feathers fly in all directions, much to the amusement of the men. The 

 fishermen also sometimes tie two hags by the legs, using a string about one foot 

 in length, which enables the birds to swim, but keeps them in unpleasant con- 

 tact, the consequence being that they fight until one or both succumb. 



Although shearwaters are exceptionally adapted to breast the 

 storm, even they at times succumb. In the cyclone of August 26 to 

 27, 1894, which visited the southern coasts of the United States, 

 Wayne (1894) found at Long Island, South Carolina, "countless 

 numbers of Pwjfinus major dead upon the beach*" 



Prior to 1875 sea birds notably the greater and sooty shearwaters, 

 were extensively used for bait on the Grand Banks, and the fishermen 

 who used them were called " shack fishermen." Since that date the 

 birds have been used less or not at all, for it has been more profitable 

 to use other sources of supply. The methods used by shack fishermen 

 83969—22 6 



