The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-17
LOoTiNl GREAT RoOKERfES.
Tons Of Eggs on the FaraiIon Islands
Are Stolen by Poachers.

Next to the Behring sea seal slaughter
there is nothing that concerns California
so closely On the Northern Pacific as the
wholesale pillaging OF the nests of sea
birds on the Farallon islands. 1t is one of
the ironies Of fate that while Great Britain
rigidly protects even the smallest birds on
her own territory during the season, she
does not disdain to lay violent hands on
the mammals of a neighboring friendly
power, and, on the other hand, that friend
II power, to wit, the United States, looks
calmly on while it's wild fowl are decimated
within sight of its shores By aliens and
even by its own citizens.
For il so happens that the sea birds and
land birds which annually visit the Faral-
Ion group for the purpose of reproducing
their species have a foe to reckon with
whose grasp is as ruthless as it is fatal.
Some idea may be formed of the annual
defamation of California and North Pacific
sea birds when it is stated that 5000, 900 OF
eggs were brought into San Francisco
market from the Farallones in four years,
and that in an immense majority of cases
the parent birds produced but a single egg
none more than three. Even at the
present time the average import of sea
birds eggs from the Farasones is 80, 0U
annually. By courtesy they are called the
eggs Of the '@murre" As matter of fact
the true "murre" or "razor bin" is toler.
ably exclusive inhabitant of the seaboard
of the Atlantic ocean north of Cape Henry.
The Farallon rookeriea afford, even IN
der the existing conditions Of rapid depopU-
lation and barefaced, unchecked spotlation.
q wonderful example of the prolific power
of nature On the shores of Sc b-tropical
land The principal island-the South FAY
ahon-on which the lighthouse is situated
may run short Of potable water in every dry
season, but the lighthouse people would
never starve for want of animal food
Nevertheless, the birds are gradually de
serting the islands. The bones ef numer
Gus species Of Pacific coast birds. rarely OF
never seen now. are common in the sa3eit
cred caves Of the group The various spe
cies Of auks, the puflns, the guilieuaots, |
The cormorantS, are common, and the p3ev- |
ers and petreis ssh breed On tie islands. |
but other California birds, once quite Is /
milar visitors to the soup, have sought |
sbodes leSs disturbed BY the ezg poacney. /
the orthinologist and the pot hunter.
OF all the birds ca the group tsae put. /
fms are the most picturesque s16 eo 1
sertaining 10 the visitor and The orro /
biologist The aux family Is, how
ever, the principal contributor 20 the eEs /
poacner's wallet Just as soon as the /
merry month OF Nay approaches there /
Is a stir among the small scaoooers and l
sailing craft in San Francisco bay, and All /
entity, like thief IN the riznt." each aki3 /
per works his way cut between the hsa<zs /
10 the -fa- FaraIions-' His crev, mostly /
composed OF GREEKS sEd Italians. with Q |
liberal sp-inkLng 81 water front cAxsawayz,
efTec1 quiet, urperceaved landing On The |
South Farallon. usually on the Sugar Laai |
rock, to the northwest, because that IL tLs |
spot where the birds breed sarlsex1
The cliffs are quite rugged. AID WIKI
perpendicular of nes,!y 10 fees. III. sy~os< 1.
no chfia's play, ard accidents are not infrs-
quent. Each esx huntsr ls furnished xIxA
. salrt Of special construction. provided
with al open frozt for sowing away tue
e2SS. and bed Of soar se2wesc zksss sfss
EasSsnard sok sAaExxs "a RAT o. a xEs<