CONSERVATION IN LABRADOR 



poles. The whole village feasts on the puffins 

 and many are wasted or given to the dogs. 

 Throughout the summer the island is visited by 

 fishermen, who not only shoot the birds, but 

 also dig them out of the nesting-holes and se- 

 cure them in nets spread over the holes. In any 

 case the young are left to perish. The New- 

 foundland fishermen are undoubtedly the worst 

 offenders in egg and bird destruction, but the 

 people of the coast are not far behind. The for- 

 mer are absolutely regardless of consequences 

 fpr the birds, but the people of the coast in some 

 few cases are careful not to disturb the birds 

 after the first eggs have been appropriated. 

 The cases related in Chapter vi of the island 

 near Pointe' au Maurier, where ring-billed gulls 

 breed, is an example. Here for many years the 

 sole family living at this place have been in 

 the habit of looking to the island for a supply 

 of fresh eggs, but they never disturb the /"''rds 

 after the first set of eggs has been taken. The 

 bird-colony has in consequence suffered no dim- 

 inution, and has even increased in numbers. 



The shooting of female eider ducks as they 

 leave their nests involves, of course, the loss of 

 the broods. The eggs themselves may be dis- 



9,89 



