^\Ve-c-o°( 
4 
I 
Mr. Brewster 3 
on purpose to see the brant. He was there only one day hut made a 
careful estimate of the brant seen as 2500. This was only for a part 
of Chatham Bay. Three days later there were five brant where there 
was one when he was there. At the same time there were, as I found 
by enquiry, brant very plentiful at MusHeget, and also some at Yamo# 
and in Pleasant Bay. It is a good safe guess that there were not less 
than 20,000 right around Cape Cod at that time-*. — there may well have 
been considerably more than double that,——and that year was not 
particularly good. Townsend was also convinced that the brant-shoot¬ 
ing was a very harmless sport. He would not go before the committee 
however because he is frankly opposed to gunning anyhow - wants the 
shore kept perfectly quiet so that the birds will breed here once 
more. Ho one can quarrel with that position though he may differ from 
it. If Forbush had come out in a manly way with a plea like that no 
one could object. We intend to see that the whole matter is re-opened 
this Winter and brother Forbush may have a chance to explain publicly 
- — -if he can. 
Very truly yours, 
U.-7 /V. 
