384 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
ie 
7: 
[Dro. ti, 1684, 
away to a distance with it before atlempting to swallow it. 
If it is pulled away by a dexterous jerk on tlie line it will re- 
turn and try it over again, but it is now doubly cautious, and 
the chances are it will get what it seeks and eseape capture, 
But when birds are plenty and all are ravenous for food, the 
marlingspike, in its struggle to be first, forgets its caution, 
and consequently becomes a victim to its greed. When 
hooked it almost always rises and tries 10 escape by flying; 
it rarely, if ever, splashcs along like the hagdon with its 
feet stuck out, striking against the water in a desperate 
effort to hold back. It is killed, when caught on a hook, in 
the same way as the hagdon: but, unlike the latter, it gener- 
ally stays killed, though it is by no means lacking in tenacity 
of life. When particularly difficult to catch on a hook it is 
often shot for bait. As a general thing, one or two dis- 
chargés of a musket causes these birds to be shy about ap- 
proaching a boat or vessel for some time afterward, and if 
imay he anywhere from a half hour to more than an hour be- 
fore one can again be enticed within gunshot, This being 
the case, it will readily be understood that only a limited 
number can be obtained in this way, and it may as well be 
said that whenever they are shot the sport and excitement in- 
cident to the shooting is as much of an inducement for kill- 
ing them as the procurement of the bodies for bait, though 
on some occasions I have myself found the supply of bait so 
obtained of considerable importance. 
I haye neyer, to my recollection, known of fishermen eat- 
ing marlingspikes, but 1 know of no reason why they 
should not be as palatuble as gulls or hagdons, which are 
frequently cooked and eaten, 
: GULLS (Laride), 
The largest species of culls, such, for instance, as the 
preat black-backed gull (Larus marinus); the herring guil 
(L. argentatus); the burgomaster (L. glaucus), Sabine’s cull 
or the forked-tail gull (Z, sabint), and some other varieties 
which frequent the fishing-banks in greater or less abund- 
ance—the ringbill (ZL. zonerynchus) being the most numerous 
—have rarely been used to any extent for bait. ‘The extreme 
shyness of the larger species; the fact that they, like the 
kittiwake, are absent from the fishing-grounds in summer 
(going and returning about the same time as the latter), and 
their comparative scarcity, even during the colder portion 
of the year, renders il difficult to effect their capture except 
by shooting them, as one discharge of a gun will generally 
frighten them so badly that they will not come near again 
for several hours, if for the day, it seldom happens that 
more than one or two individuals can be got in this way, an 
insignificant number when several thousand hooks have to 
I have never seen a burgomaster or L, murine 
On several occasions I have seen the 
Yingbill captured in this way, but rarely more than one or 
be baiteil. 
caught on a hook. 
two ata time. However hungry these large birds are (and 
they are generally very poor in tiesh and in half-famished 
condition), their extreme timidity generally prevents them 
But 
from approaching even within gunshot of a vessel. 
they will chase a kittiwake which is fying away with food 
with all the fierceness and persistence of a jezer, and their 
greater size and swiftness enables them to rob the smaller 
bird, though when there are several of the large gulls in 
pursuit of the same object—as is often the case—the result 
is generally a lively scrimmage in the air, which isa de- 
cidedly interesting scene to witness. 
The larger gulls subsist chiefly on the small] fish which 
they can pick up at the surface of the sea, but as they do 
not dive (so far, at least, as I have been able to observe) their 
ability to obtain food is more limited than that of the hag- 
don. J have rarely found any food in the stomachs of the 
large gulls that I bave shot or caught on a hook, except, 
perhaps, it might be the case that they had swallowed some 
offal that had heen thrown out from the vessel, 
It sometimes happens that the common gull (Z, zonoryn- 
chus) gathers in considerable numbers alongside of a vessel 
when fish are being dressed, and they are very active in se- 
curing their saare of the offal thrown out, but, as previouly 
slated, they depend more on watching and robbing the kit- 
tiwake than on venturing near enough the vessel to snatch 
the coveted morsels as they fallin the water, When they 
do attempt the latter feat it is interesting to note how skill- 
fully it ig performed, Its timidity prevents the ringbill from 
lighting to seize the food near the vessel; therefure, the in- 
stant his keen eye detects a piece of fish offal falling to the 
water, down he comes, swooping’ by with the speed of the 
wind. and so accurate is his flight that be rarely fails to 
snitch from the surface the object that he aimed at, and 
which he carries off in his beak to a safer distance where he 
ean swallow it unmolested by the fear of man. 
The large pulls are sometimes, though not often, eaten by 
the fishermen; the smaller, tenderer, and more easily caught 
kitliwakes are preferred. It may be of interest to mention 
in this connection that the coast fishermen of Newfoundland 
capture the young of the sea-gulls (wenerally of the larger 
species) while they are yet nestlings, and carefully rear them 
until they are full grown, feeding them chiefly on fish. A 
single family may have a dozen or twenty of these young 
birds. I have frequently seen ten or a dozen young gulls in 
asingle pen at Belloram, Fortune Bay, and there were a 
pumpber of such pens in the little village. Inmany places on 
the Newfoundland coast these birds, [have been told, oc- 
cupy the same place that with us is filled by the domestic 
fowls. 
the coast fisherman is satisfied with the young and fat gulls 
which he has reared. And the family is considered fortun- 
ate which has among iis members one or two enterprising 
boys who succeed in capturing several broods of young gulls 
on “off days,” when they are not engaved in fishing. 
THE BURGOMASTHR GULL (Larus glaucus). 
This large and beautiful species occurs on the Grand Banks 
in the winter season, especially when the weather is, unusu- 
ally severe, or when there is an abundance of drift-ice on or 
near the banks. Inthe winter of 1879 I noticed them on 
several occasions while anchored on the northwest part of 
the Grand Banks, and on Green Bank, but so far as my ex- 
perience extends, they are never abundant. Two or three 
times we Saw as many as ten or a dozen of them flying about 
the vessel, but they were 80 extremely shy that it was ex- 
ceedingly difficnlt to entice them withiu gunshot, In my 
journal, under date of March 14, 1879, I made the following 
enfry: ‘‘Almost every day since we have been here I have 
seen some of the burgomaster gulls.” On the same cruise I 
succceded in getting a specimen, the shot breaking one of 
its wings. I brought this bird home in good condition on 
ice, and gaye it to Mr. Raymond L Newcomb, of Salem, 
Maes. The weather at the time [saw this species on the 
Grand Banks was uoustally cold. §o far as I had an op- 
portunity of observing, these birds fly in pairs, and thus 
mated they will apparently keep together with much con- 
stancy, but they evidently have no disposition to go in 
Instead of the conventional turkey for the holidays 
ing the prevalence of a hea 
riding out at anchor: ‘Phe Is. 
near the stern of the vessel, occasionally rising on 48 wing to cleara 
flocks. Under date of March 13, 1879, is the following note 
in my journal: ‘‘Tsaw two beautiful great burgomaster 
gulls this forenoon; they were flying side by side to wind- 
ward.” Again, on March 15, I saw some splendid opportu- 
nities to shoot several burgomaster gulls, which came un- 
usually near the vessel, but the weather was too rough to 
get them even if I succeeded in killing them, therefore I did 
not try, Its flight resembles that of the herring gull (Larus 
argentatus), though it is perhaps less swift than the latter. 
Owing to the fact that the burgomaster is rarely or never 
seen in summer on the Grand Banks, and is so extremely 
timid about approaching man, it is not used for bait, since, 
for the reasons mentioned, it cannot be captured. 
THE KITTIWAKE GULL (Larus tridactylus). 
Of all the birds which visit the fishing banks the kitliwake 
gull (‘*winter gull,” ‘‘pinyole,” etc.; of the fishermen) is be- 
yond question the most abundant, with the exception, per- 
haps, of the petrels or Mother Carey chickens. These gulls 
have a very wide distribution along the Atlantic coast. I 
have seen them along the coast of New Jersey, and thence to 
the eastern coast of Newfoundland, and while at sea, in 
winter, I have met witb them all the way from Cape Cod to 
the Grand Banks. The species occur in great abundance on 
all the outer fishing banks in winter, and at the same time is 
also numerous about the harbors along the coast. It is ap- 
parently gregarious, but, though it is usually met with in 
large flocks, as has just been stated, yet sometimes one, two, 
or three of these birds may follow a vessel, which is making 
& passage in the deep water between the fishing banks, for 
several days, eagerly watching for any offal that may be 
thrown overboard, 
Though less daring and pugnacious than the hagdon, it is 
even niore noisy when food is obtainable. IJtis a constant 
companion of fishing schooners when anchored on the bunks, 
and especially when fish are being dressed, it comes in count- 
Jess numbers around the vessel ready to pounce upon the 
offal, At such times all of them join ina general shout 
whenever any of their companions succeed in getting a mor- 
sel of fond, and their screams are almost deafening. Should 
one of them get hold of a piece of codfish liver which it ean- 
not swallow, it immediately attempts to fly away with it, 
but it is pursued by hundreds of its screaming companions, 
who make every endeavor to steal the half-swallowed piece 
of food, This attempt frequently proves successful; but it 
does not follow that the thief profits by its enterprise, for if, 
in turn, is subject to the same annoyance, and perhaps may 
lose the food which it has so dexterously stolen. On the 
other hand, three or four birds may succeed in getting hold 
of the liver which is half swallowed by the tirst; but they 
do usually content themselves with having merely obtained 
a taste of the precious tidbit which may be finally torn into 
pieces and swallowed by a haif dozen of their more fortun- 
ate companions, The voracity with which the gluttonous 
kittiwake swallows the bait usually insures its capture with 
hook and line. 
This species does not, however, leave its breeding ground 
along the coast nor appear upon the fishing banks until late 
in autumn, and therefore the ‘‘shack-fishermen” cannot de- 
pend upon it for bait, as they do on the hagdon, for, by this 
time, they have generally nearly completcd their fares, and 
in some cases haye returoed to their home port. 
Some years ago, when the codfishermen used fo remain on 
the Grand Banks later in the season than they do now, 
sometimes staying as late as November, or possibly longer, 
large quantities of kittiwake gulls were used for bait. 
Some of the fishermen relish the bird, which, when 
properly cooked, makes a not unsayory dish at sea, Such a 
dish cannot, of course, be compared to a spring chicken; but 
a ‘pot pic’ made of kittiwake gulls would probably not be 
regarded with indifference even by the most fastidious, and 
us served in some instances which have passed under my own 
observation, it was 4 very good substitute for the conyen- 
tional turkey for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.* 
The food of the kittiwake gull usually consists of small 
fish and crustacea, which it is able to obtain near the surface 
of the water; but on the fishing banks many of these birds 
procure a considerable portion, perhaps, of their food from 
the offal thrown overboard by the crews of the fishing ves- 
sels. its subsistence, however, at this season js excecdingly 
precarious, and it is generally found with little food in its 
stomach »nd very poor in flesh. Although the kittiwake 
approaches a vessel or boat with considerable boldness, com- 
ing as it often does within a few feet of the side of either, 
and recklessly darting{almost within arms’ length of a man 
engaged in throwing out a trawl, it nevertheless exhibits a 
remarkable timidity when a gan is fired. The most noisy 
and greedy gulls which have been screaming around the 
vessel are rendered cautious and comparatively quiet by one 
or two discharges of a musket, and for some time it is diffi- 
cult to entice them back. However, when one or two, bolder 
than the rest, have succeeded in possessing themselves of 
some coveted morsel, the rest take courage, and in a few 
minutes they have apparently recovered from their fright; 
but another discharge instantly demoralizes them again. 
During the violent gales which are so frequenf on the fish- 
ing banks in the winter, the little gulls, though fully able to 
breast the force of the fiercest gale, prefer to sit upon the 
water unless there is a prospect ot obtaining food. At such 
times they can almost always be seen in flocks near thestern 
of an anchored vessel, gracefully following the undulating 
upheaval of the agitated waves; one or more perhaps may 
be on the wing watching for the appearance of the offal 
which may be washed from the vessel's deck, The least in- 
dication of food instantly brings them all on the wing, and 
with their usual noisy scrambles in robbing one another, 
they go skurrying off before the wind, rising and falling 
over the crests of the breaking waves. It not only behooves 
the gulls at such times to keep a sharp lookout for food, but 
they must be equally watchful for their safety; for should 
they be caught heneath the crest of one of the huge, curling 
and toppling waves, they would be instantly crushed or torn 
to pieces. They are, therefore, constantly on the alert in a 
gale, and are ready to rise on the wing and to fly over the 
crest of'a breaking wave and immediately alight on the oppo- 
site side.+ 
* Capt. Henry O, Smith is authority for stating that kittiwake gulls, 
and oecasionally some of the larger species, are caught for food by 
the Newfoundland fishermen in winter, acommon rat trap being nsed 
to effect the capture, The trap is firmly secured toa piece of board, 
baited with a fish liver, and allowed to float down astern of the 
anchored boat on which the crew is engaged in fishing for cod or 
other species. The greedy gull sees the tempting morsel, makes a, 
dash to secure it, and snap fo the jaws of the trap, nipping the unfor- 
tunate bird in its grasp. ‘This is repeated over and over again. 
+ The following note I find in my journal under date of Feb. 11, dur- 
vy gale on the (srand Banks which I was 
little white gulls sit hovering on the water 
breaking wave, or to pick up any fish-oital that may be washed from 
the scuppers.”’ 
In the spring the kittiwake leaves the bank and goes in 
shore toits breeding grounds. Its nests are easily found 
upon the Newfoundland shores, and very likely at many 
other places along the coast.* 
TERNS. 
The common tern (Sterna hirunde) Linn., occurs during 
summer in limited numbers on the banks east of Sable 
Island. This species was taken by Newcomb when with 
me on Banquereau, The common mackerel gull of the 
fishermen, the Arctic tern (S. aretiea) is very abundant in 
summer on the fishing banks near Sable Island, where it is 
said to breed in great numbers, On Sept. 3, 1878, Newcomb 
shot one of these birds some twenty-five miles eastward of 
Sable Island. + 
Like the kittiwake, the terms are exceedingly noisy, and 
often gather in greater numbers about a vessel from which 
fish-offal is being thrown, but they are rarely abundant on 
the banks except in the immediate vicinity of Sable Island; 
they are somewhat difficult to catch on a hook, and also 
because of the smallness of their bodies, they are seldom if 
eyer used for bait. 
PETRELS OR MOTHER CAREY 8 CHICKENS (Genera Cymochorea 
and Oczanttes). 
There are seyeral varieties of the petrels commonly found 
in great abundance on the fishing banks from spring to fall, 
They usually make their first appearance in April, the date 
varying somewhat with different seasons—some springs, per- 
haps, being slightly warmer than others—and remain until 
after the first snow storms in the fall. Under the date of 
April 10, 1879, when on the eastern part of Banquerean, I 
noted that ‘‘petrels made their first appearance to day. These 
birds generally leave the bank late in October or early in 
November and come again early in April or May.” 
Just how many species of petrels occur on the fishing 
banks I am unable to say, but I believe there are at least 
three, and possibly more. Of these, I think Leach’s petrel 
(C. leucor7hod) is the most abundant on the Grand Banks, 
while the Wilson petrel (0. oceanicus) is also numerous. 
These birds are excessively fond of oily food, and may 
always be seen in great numbers around a vessel or boat 
from which particles of fish liver or other offal are being 
thrown out. In describing the hagdon, mention has been 
made of certain peculiarities which the Carey chickens ex- 
hibit in the matter of seeking and eating their food; such, 
for instance, as their supposed ability io follow up a scent, 
and the way they work together in a united effort to tear 
into fragments a section of liver which is so large that one 
bird cannot manage it, A favorite method of feeding which 
the petrels exhibit is to dance upon the water’s surface, 
picking up any oily particles that may be floating thereon, 
and which, though small in themselves, in the agurezate 
alford the birds much food. To them these bits are pa'ticu- 
larly attractive. As it frequeufly happens that fish oil or 
other fatty particles are being thrown out or washed from 
the deck of a fishing vessel, one who may be on board has a 
yery good opportunity of noting these habits of the petrel. 
When caught, it almost invariably ejects an oily, strong- 
smelling substance, and the contents of its stomach are 
thrown out, as a rule, the instant it is taken into a boat or 
on a vessel’s deck, Ina very few minutes after being caught 
its appearance changes wonderfully; and instead of its 
feathers looking clean and sleek, they become, almost imme- 
diately, damp and dirty, and have a decidedly bedraggled 
look, If, after being on a yessel’s deck for ten minutes or 
thereabouts, it is thrown overboard, the probabilities are that 
the petrel cannot fly at all, and it is only with the utmost 
difficulty that it can rise a few feet from the water, into 
which it soon falls again, If the bird’s strength is sufficient 
to sustain it in a contiuuous effort to dry its wings and 
feathers, it at last succeeds in supporting itself in the air, 
As soon, however, as it dares, it lights on the water and pro- 
ceeds to arrange its plumage. 
The natural position of the Carey chicken may be said to 
be that of constant motion and activity on the wing. Tt 
seems to be as uearly tireless as is possible for any living 
animal to be. So rarely, indeed, are they seen sitting at rest 
on the water, that sailors have acquire certain superstitions 
connected therewith, though these beliefs are not always the 
same, For instance, | have heard it said by some that to 
see Carey chickens sitting on the water was a sign of a long 
spell of calm weather, while others as firmly believed such 
an occurrence was a@ sure precursor of & storm, 
Whether petrels rest at night or not 1am unable to say 
positively, though there are strong reasons for believing they 
do not. Oa hundreds of occasiuns | have seen them flying 
about the yessel on moonlight nights, and nothing is more 
common than fora man on lookout on a dark foggy night 
to be startled by the chirp of a Carey chicken, which, at- 
tracted by the brilliancy of the riding light, suddenly finds 
himself over the yessel’s deck, and in too close proximity to 
quarters he prefers to avoid, 
Petrels have been used to some extent for bait, but because 
of the small size of their bodies, a single bird being scarcely 
large enough to bait two hooks, they have never been con- 
sidered an important source of bait supply. The fact that 
they are almost entirely indifferent to the presence of man, 
and that they will gather in creat numbers within a few feet 
of the side of a boat or vessel, renders fit an easy matter to 
kill them. This being the case some of the “shack-fisher- 
men,” when other sources of bait supply failed to afford the 
requisite quantity, often killed hundreds of petrels in a single 
day to make up the deficiency, though it is possible the 
slaughter of these birds was Jess than it would baye been, 
because of the superstition common among seafaring men, 
that it is “unlucky” to kill Mother Carey’s chickens, 
The most common and effective way of killing them was 
with a whip, which was made by tying several parts of cod- 
line—each part 6 to 8 feet long—to a staff 5 or 6 feef in 
length. The petrels were tolled up by throwing out a large 
piece of codfish liver, and when they had gathered in a dense 
muss, huddling over the object which attracted them, swish 
weni the thongs of the whip cutting their way through the 
crowded flock, and perhaps killing or maiming a score or 
more at asingle sweep. By the time these were picked up an- 
other flock was gathered, and the cruel. work went on until, 
may be, 400 or 500 birds were killed, though, perhaps, it was 
seldom that so great a Dumber was obtained at once, 
GUILLEMOTS. C : 
THE FOOLISH GUILLEMOT OR MURRE (Uria troile) Linn. 
In spring large flocks of murres are seen on the fishing 
banks migrating northwardly. 1 have noticed them in 
*In my journal, under date of April 29, 1879, I find the following 
note relative to the departure of the lis from the outer 
ter £u 1 
banks: “The little white gulls are growing scarce, they leaye for land 
about this time.’ } . 
+The specimen alluded to was called an Arctic tern by Mr, New- — 
comb, who is my authority in this matter, 
