The Western Gulls 
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 Adurres’ 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 
