The Western Gulls 



Taken at Santa Cruz 



WESTERN GULLS AT SANTA CRUZ 



Pholo by the Author 



to raise wolves and sheep in the same fold. I am not, of course, in favor 

 of annihilating the Western Gull; we need him — at least some of him; 

 but I am in favor of reducing him to one-half or one-fourth of his present 

 numbers. This should be done quietly and judiciously and officially. 



In the spring of 191 1 the writer was privileged to visit the Farallon 

 Islands, which harbor the largest colonies of sea-birds, and especially of 

 Western Gulls, to be found off the coast of California. The breeding 

 population of gulls I estimated at 3000 pairs, an enormous increase over 

 the days of the Portuguese "egg trust," which in the interest of "business" 

 in Murres' eggs had kept the gull population sternly within bounds. 

 The numbers of Murres, as a consequence, were sadly reduced, and the 

 colony of Farallon Cormorants consisted of a pitiful remnant, some 

 thirty-five pairs. 



A page from my notebook under date of May 26 records the common- 

 places of a two weeks' experience: "Nothing in the life of the Farallons 

 is more striking than the rapacity of the gulls and their determination to 

 profit by any excitement which will frighten the peasantry. No matter 



1386 



