May, 1909 
THE PASSING OF TIIE PEDRO ISLAND SEA-BIRD ROOKERY 
95 
hearing this we did not expect to find many birds on the island, but decided, how- 
ever, to make the trip. 
Near as the island is to the shore, it was necessary to row about a mile to reach 
it. The craft was rather small for four people and made slow progress against the 
waves of an open sea. Our boatman rowed to a spot which he claimed was the 
best on the island to land. As we neared the great mass of rock rising almost per- 
pendicularly out of the sea it seemed to me that there was but little choice in the 
matter, for it meant a hard and dangerous climb wherever we disembarked. As I 
have stated, Mr. Heinemann was one of the party, so it will be understood that we 
had the usual collection of cameras, tripods and packing cases; these with a rope- 
ladder, provisions and other necessities made a considerable load. Landing, one at 
a time, on a wave-splashed rock, between one breaker and another, was exciting if 
not enjoyable. Then by way of variety came the climb of a narrow and steep 
A PORTION OF PEDRO ISLAND ; A FROCK OF SEA-PIGEONS MAY BE 
DISCERNED ON THE ROCKS AT THE RIGHT MIDDLE 
rocky passage to the top of the ridge. It took the combined effort of Oluf and 
myself to aid the heavy-weight member of our party, Snow, to the top. From 
here a descent was made to the southern side where traveling was easier. How- 
ever, the worst was yet to come, for, after a short distance, a steep bluff walled 
our way which we were forced to ascend, as the cliffs water-wise were as straight 
as a brick wall. 
At the foot of the bluff we lost a member of our party, for Snow found the 
climbing too difficult and so was left in charge of the commissary department while 
Oluf and I worked our way to the top. After reaching the summit and wending 
our way along the ridge we came to a long level ledge which was no doubt in the 
past the main rookery. Many deserted cormorant nests still remained and in the 
rocky furrows were scattered egg-shells of the murre. There were but few birds 
about, however, and these were not nesting. Oluf remained behind to photograph 
