The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-22

Queer things. some of them amusing.
have been happening lately on certain of
the wild game reserves created by the
government in various parts Of the
United States.
One OF these reserves. which Is a vol
cano In Bering Sea, has become so hot
as to drive away the sea lions that fire.
quent Il Another. In Florida. is giving
such effective protection to dolphins that
the latter. freed from the perils of rifle
and shotgun, are rapidly increasing in
numbers-to the great disgust of people
of the wealthy class. who have made the
neighborhood a winter resort. and who
claim that their favorite amusement of
motor-boating Is rendered perilous by
the animals.
1t Is easy to understand how a party
OF pleasure-seekers on board of a mo-
tor-boat. going az a rate of forty miles
an hour, might be seriously perturbed
by the sudden appearance of half a
dozen Of these clowns of the sea-" ris-
Ing suddenly into view a short distance
ahead. and cavorting over the waves
with their customary recklessness. They
weigh 800 pounds or more apiece, and to
strike ono would mean a total smashup
The place referred to in Florida Is the
Mosquito Inlet Reservation, which was
set aside as a breeding refuge for sew
eral species OF herons. the ciapper rail-
and various kinds OF ducks. Brown peli-
cans. also. whose wonderful nesting COL
ony. on Pelican Island. is some distance
to the south-come hither to loaf on
the marshes and sandpits.
Shooting Is absolutely forbidden, SO
that not only dolphins, but sea cows
are gaining In numbers. These latter
otherwise called manateesy are huge
aquatic mammals. attaining a length of
ten feet and weight of half a ton. But
they are gentle. herbivorous creatures,
feeding on water vegetation. In former
days they were plentiful all along the
Gulf and South Atlantic coasts. and nat
uralists are anxious that their species
shall be preserved.
Refuge for Sea Birds.
Yet the preservation of sea cows and
dolphins was not thought Of when the
bird refuge at Mosquito Inlet was Gre
ated. The situation in this respect is
like that OF the green turtles which are
now multiplying rapidly on the keys
Of the Breton Island Reservation, of the
Louisiana coast. In fact. this chain of
low, sandy islands. some of them mere
sandbsrs. devoid of vegetation and wave
swept during every gale. protected as 1t
is against depredations by hunters.
promises TO preserve a reptilian species
which has been seriously threatened with
determination
This reservation. east Of the mouths Of
the Mississippi, was set apart by Presi-
dent Roosevelt as refuge for wild sea
birds. II covers about 900 square miles
of islands. and is exceedingly wild and
difficult of access. the coast for miles
back being a vast morass. But il af-
fords an ideal breeding ground for the
green turtles. beloved of epicures ana
suggestive of the most delicious soup in
the world, which crawl up on the sandy
beaches at night. dig holes a couple of
feet deep with their fiippers, and lay
therein from 81 to go eggs. covering
them up and leaving them to be Matched
by the sun-warmed sand. Occasionally
these huge marine tortoises attain a
weight of COO pounds. They live in deep
water and feed on sea plants. mostly
turtle grass" which they cut of near
the roots, eating the succulent lower
parts and leaving the tops floating, so
that the latter collect in great fields and
mark places where hunting for the ami
mails Is sure to be good.
Breton Island is the sOuthernmost of the
keys" here described. and is well out In
the ocean. A small house of refuge for
shipwrecked people has been built upon
Il by the Audubon Society. which main
tains a patrol boat to keep off poachers.
The reservation Is the breeding ground
OF the curious sea birds known as black
swimmers" On Rattledore Island. one
of the chain. are millions OF them. When
fiocks have alighted, the sands are literal
ly black with them; but, when they fly
up and toward the observer, showing
their bills, of carmine hue. resemble
pair of shears. They bark like dogs. but.
when disturbed by intruders. their cries
resemble the sobbing of children.
Breton Island is breeding resort for