From The Zoologist, April, 1869
Slaughter of seafowl at Weston-super-Mare
During the winter, Weston Bay is frequented by large
flocks of gulls which are attracted by the shoals of sprats to be found in its shallow waters.
The kittiwake is by far the most numerous of the gull
tribes which then put in their claim to a share in the fish harvest.
But this last winter, the gulls themselves have been more
than usually persecuted.
They came to capture, and have themselves been taken.
They came to capture, and have themselves been taken.
There are always a few desultory shooters on the wait for
them, but this season the campaign against them was methodically
organised.
Our fishermen found that, in consequence of the great demand for gulls' wings for ladies' hats, it would he quite as profitable for them to shoot the birds as to attend to their nets.
The gulls were tempted within gunshot by broken sprats being thrown overboard, and, when one was killed, it was allowed to float upon the water to attract the curiosity of its companions and to draw them within range.
Our fishermen found that, in consequence of the great demand for gulls' wings for ladies' hats, it would he quite as profitable for them to shoot the birds as to attend to their nets.
The gulls were tempted within gunshot by broken sprats being thrown overboard, and, when one was killed, it was allowed to float upon the water to attract the curiosity of its companions and to draw them within range.
This method of shooting appears to have been a very
successful one as I have been told of gunners bringing back forty or fifty gulls
each after a morning's work, and I have myself met the men returning mote
than once with large panniers laden with dead gulls.
One of the fishermen told me that he had noticed several minute gulls in company with the others.
He brought me one which he had shot, and this is a very pretty specimen of the little gull in a state of plumage which very closely resembles that of the " tarrock" or young kittiwake, with the black patch on either side the neck behind the ear, and the black upper wing-coverts, which are the well-known characteristics of the tarrock.
One of the fishermen told me that he had noticed several minute gulls in company with the others.
He brought me one which he had shot, and this is a very pretty specimen of the little gull in a state of plumage which very closely resembles that of the " tarrock" or young kittiwake, with the black patch on either side the neck behind the ear, and the black upper wing-coverts, which are the well-known characteristics of the tarrock.
Another boatman shot an old fulmar, not a common visitor
to our southern coasts.
I am very glad to see there is some chance of the gulls
and other cliff birds obtaining protection during the breeding-season, for, with
the present rage for feathers of all description, there seemed a prospect that every handsome bird which could be obtained by powder and
shot was doomed to extermination.
No lover of Nature would care to miss the gull from the
shore, and missed he will be if something is not soon done to protect him.
I am told that, here in Weston a great number of gulls
were sold and eaten, the price obtained being about twopence for each bird.
M.A. Mathew
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
February 23, 1869.
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* Now available (price £1) as an ebook via Kindle
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