The Brussels Post, 1947-8-20, Page 2Seabirds of Gaspe Find reeding
Grounds Close to Pounding Surf
By James Montagnes in the Christian Science Monitor.
While ocean liners pass close 10
the little French-Canadian village
f Perce, no man-made booming of
boat horns sound above the pound
ing of the surf, the thunderous beat-
ing of countless wings, and the rau-
coos calling of tens of thousands of
birds. Though Perce is one of 'the
first sights of land an ocean captain
sees after his crossing, his whis-
tles keep still, his salutes after
a successful crossing wait until
he is further up the Gaspe coast
of Canada, for the regulations -call
for no man-made noise blasts off
the little village of Perce.
For off this little fishermen's
village, with its French-speaking
Scots and Irish, are the two last
breeding places on this continent
of many types of seabirds, which
flocked the coasts in countless
millions when the first explorers
discovered what is now the Gill'
of St. Lawrence.
Today Perce Rock, off the little
village, and Bonaventure Ila ad,
three miles out to sea from Peree,
are the remaining breeding places
of gannets, cormorants, puffins,
gulls, aulks, mums and other sea -
fowl. Loud blasts from boats
would startle the birds; they would
upset their eggs in their haste
to take flight.
* * *
Bonaventure Island is about three
miles long and a mile and a halt
wide. On its seaward side are
great cliffs of red sandstone, where
broad ledges form secure nesting
places for throngs of seabirds. It
is like a huge apartment house for
birds, with a sea view on all sides.
Perce Rock is au isolated limestone
mass about 1,500 feet long, 300
feet wide, and about as high above
the sea. •
• Brightly colored, rugged w it h
steep cliffs which cannot be easily -
climbed, these two nesting riwks
are secluded, according to the
instincts of breeding birds, which
pick hidden places to lay their
eggs and hatch their young.
Perce Rock has no inhabitants
except birds; its sides are too
steep for the best climbers. Bona -
venture Island has a. few homes.
an old church, ruins on its top;
and can be climbed from one side,
the other sides slipping almost
straight down into the pounding
sea. Some 10 families live on Bon-
aventure Island, but back in lea
it wa5 widely lenown to fishermen,
The birds were so numerous they
were like a "fog" to quote the
early explorers.
Later Bonaventure became the
home of bauccaneers and priva-e4
teers who waged war on the ships
of France. Settlers came frorn
the British Channel Islands, and
while their names are still of
Scots and Irish descent, French
Is spoken on the island, and the
rustoms of the Channel Islands
prevail.
* *
When the birds on the two rocks
appeared to be losing the battle
of slaughter and pillaging of eggs
sbout 25 years ago, the Canadian
and Quebec governments declarefi
the nesting places sanctuaries, arid
forbade the blowing of boat
whistles and horns. Sincethen bird
fife bas made a major comeback,
end annually a growing number of
visitors come by highway and boat
Quite Agreeable
Superintendent: "It Le our ,ustout
to let a prisoner work at the sante
trade in here as he did outside. NOW,
Cabot is your trade — shoemaker.
thoksmith, or--"
Prisoner: 'Pleasesir, I was a
travelling salesman"
to see the Mots in their im.rtasing
Manlier swarm the cliff sides.
Because from the tot. of Bona.
venture Island the wheeling. dr -
cling birds can be studied at close
range, naturalists flock to the is-
land in Summer time. A et,,lyrra
tide engineers have a iso been re-
ported on the island to s osis es every
action of the birds with fast cameras
to aid the study of aviation.
The bird roosts are reached hy
climbing the western beach along
a hardly visible trail through the
spruce v, nods. 13lueberi iet; and
strawberries grow 'Nib' for the
picker on the narrow trail
*
GlinlPses of the ocean far be-
low arc sten between the thickly
grown bush, and here and there in
the clearing near the lower part of
the island the ruins of old 'mines
are passed, n bile from a few ancient
houses smoke curls from the (hint-
neys.
After a long climb an open spot
is reached from where can he
seen the rows of birds as they sit
in tiers on their rock ledges
watching the continuous play of
the waves in the sea below.
Itifost studied of the birds is the
gannet, known to ancient mariners
as solan geese, a bird as large as
a goose, pure white with black
wing tips and a slight creamy
wash on the crown and its hind
neck Lines about its eyes re-
sembling spectacles give it a slight-
ly comic appearance.
* * *
It is a large and pow mild
measuring nearly three feet in
length. and has pointed wings
which spread to over she feet when
in flight It can fly swiftly, climb
rapidly, oe instantly check its flight
and nose dive from 200 feet with un-
erring acruracy on a mar k ere!, its
chief food.
When its landing arca is not
too small, the gannet lands on the
edge of its nesting ledge, runs for
several feet, sometimes falling on
its breast if the speed is great. In
limited space though the gannet is
awkward on its feet, it can snake
a perfect spot landing.
Boatmen circle Bonaventure's Is-
land each Summer with the grow-
ing number of visitors. From the
sea ran be seen every ledge and
shelf covered with white as though
snow had been piled in drifts
on the cliffs, allowing only the dull
red color of the rock to show in a
few spots,
* * *
Perce Rock is mainly !viliabited
by double -crested cormorants. They
rase their young on its rocky roof,
the only place on the promontory
which allons any sort of foothold.
It is called Perce (French for
Pierce) Rock because of the unique
arch at one end of its base, through
which a boat can sail, and which
is passable et ebb tide on foot,
Perce Rock is considered one of
the beauty spots of the Atlantic
coast, and has drawn geologists
front all parts of the world to see
its natural arch and its riot of
color when a sunset plays on tl'e
limestone formation.
The birds of Bonaventure Is-
land and Peirce Rock are no friends
of the fishermen, and yet the peo.ic
of the Perce coast would miss
the birds should they vanish
The coming of the bit cis in flu
Spring is the signal for the re-
turn of life in the boats and on
the sea. The wailing of the gulls
in the early morning and their
crooning over the young at night
are winds that the fisher -folk have
always heard. To them those
noises are as necessary as the surge
of the sea upon the shore,
OPSY by GLADYS PARKER
OUT,M155,YOU MU.5T
WANT A MARRIAGE
LICENSE f
OH NO,YOU SEE
1 HAVEN'T
FOUND THE
GROOM YET/
HUNTING LICENISE-5—°
6( / pys (PAR le'ra--
' • .
New Oakville Horne of Ontario's Lieut. -Gov, Ray LaWSOn is Ballymena, here, which he is
reported to have purchased. Buildings on the ight-and-a-half acre estate were erected in
1922 by the late Col. William Eaton who died three years ago. The property then was ac-
quired by A. S. Auld.
or.
9t
0, 0 8 SIni niAtat gt,e*L rt
Eir*De
Beggar
By
Matthew Christopher
The knock sounded like the soft
click of a night latch. Naomi open-
ed the door, and he stood there—a
tall, Inunble looking figure whose
sunken grey eyes peered unobtru-
sively frorn a sun -leathered face
If Philip bad been here she would
have closed the door, She woold say,
"I'm sorry, but we have nothing
left." Or, just, "I'm sorry." But
Philip wasn't here, .And she was
ready to place the food on the table.
"Good morning, Ma'am?" he said.
He smiled, a tender smile that
broke through his grey whiskers,
"Would you be kind enough to
give an old man a ---a bite to eat?"
Then it was as if Philip was be-
hind her, staring over her shoulders
glaring with those level brown eyes
of his, saying, "Tell him to go on
his way"
The stir flashed a welcoming sig-
nal on het bright smile, and touched
the high tones of her smoothly
planed face. "Come in," she said.
"You're just in time."
Just a Whispered
46Word To The Wise"
He was an old-titne city editor on
one of Boston's famous newspapers,
a colorful Inoue, he had an answer
to every problem. His sagacity was
isi particular evidence on one oc-
casion, Peering over his rolitop at
the close of the day, he word(' si-
lently observe his reporters Clipping
away long before the natal emitting
time of four o'clock. One day, just
before the daily exodus, he station-
ed himself at the exit, just below the
office clock. The customary parade,
unabashed by the boss's presence,
started at the usual time, but not
before the city editor seized each
man by the arm and bade hint a
hearty "Good night!" With it, how-
ever, came a whispered comment,
followed by a "now have a good
time, See you in the morning,"
Strangely enough, five or ten Min-
utes after their departure, the re-
porters slatted eliking gack to their
desks.
The astute city editor had whispers
ed to each man: "Remember, Mc-
Xinley was shot '12 minutes before
four I"
A recent purchase of 48 new
diesel-eleetrie locomotive units
bring the number ln use at C,N.R.
terminalq tliconghoid the country
to 327.
Lieut. -Governor and itt rs, I.a wson hope to tak e up resident: e
at I3allymena before the end of August. Here Hon, Ray
Lawson is seen with one of his Angus steers.
He had a cautious quality al out
his step as he crossed the thres1 old
into the kitchen. She could aln ost
hear Philip say, "See how careful
he is? You got to watch that kind.
That characteristic quirk isn't
exactly human nature!"
Connie ran in from the dining
room, her brown curls bobbing on
her bead like soft coils of spring.
"Go back and get in your chair,
Connie," Naomi said. "We're going
to have company." She gave the beg-
gar a radiant smile, and pointed to
a chair in the dining room. "Yon
may sit there. The hat can go on the
bureau behind you."
Suddenly She San' her purse there.
She had placed it there after having
brought home the things from the
grocer's. But 11 would look silly now
to remove it, she thought. Even if
he were one of Philip's characters
there was only 60 rents, to the pen-
ny, in the purse.
It would have made no difference
in the world to Philip that he was
old. The older, the more experi-
enced; the more experienced, the
craftier, was Philip's philosophical
slant on it.
Naomi heard the man chuckle as
she stood at the stove,,mixing the
gravy with the potatoes. he brought
the food to the table, put same in
Connie's plate, and urged the man
to help himself. He did, unemhar-
rassingly, but he didn't take much
Just a little of each.
He pushed the plate away from
him when he was finished, patted
his skinny stomach with satisfac-
tion,
"You're not through?" Naomi
said. "There's lots more,"
He shook his head. "No, Ma'am,
thanks. I'm through, It was delici-
ous, believe me, Ma'am. I'm cer-
tainly thankful to ye."
Philip would rave when he'd hear.
She'd tell him, of course. Why not?
She thought, if Philip could be here,
now; if Ile could just sit in a corner
and watch, he would cast out of his
mind all those ridiculous beliefs he
had shoot these unfortunate human
beings.
llut she'd tell him, and she would
laugh when he'd rave,
Back in the dining room, she sat
downagain and began finishing her
Ineai
"Mamma?" ''Yes, dear?" she
glanced up, Connie's black eyes were
staring peculiarly at her, "What is
it, darling?" "That man opened
your purse," Connie said.
:Naomi stared incredulously at her
daughter. 'Connie," her voice was
sharp, ''Are you sure?" "Yes, Mam-
ma,"
Immediately, she thought of Phil-
ip.
Quickly, she rose from the chair,
swooped the purse off the top of the
bureau, She flicked it open with
her thumb, and sprawed into it
with trembling fingers, And, slid-
deniy—
Iler voice shrilled high,
bell -like. "Connie, lookl" She was
smiling radiantly.
The child stared blandly at the
old, wrinkled, one -dollar bill Naomi
was holding in her hand.
Verdict Satisfactory
A man bought a house on the
boundary separating Russia front
Rumania, but was uncertain which
country it was in, especially as he
received demand notes for rates
from the officials of both.
A surveyor employed to determine
the question had much difficulty in
doing so. However, six months later
he gave his verdict.
"7'he house," he said, "is definitely
in Rumania."
"Thank Heaven!" ejaculated fhe
owner; "I couldn't possibly stand
another Russian winter."
Willing Helper
Jack: Lft's give the bride a show-
er,
John: Count. ,He in -1111 bring the
soap.
The First Glass
Investigators seem to agree that
the first glass probably was made
in Egypt, but the point never has
been satisfactorily settled.
According to Pliny's account,
Phoenician merchants carrying a
cargo of soda from Egypt, landed
in Syria on the River 13elus, near
Mount Carmel, and made fires to
cook their meals. Resting the iron
pots on blocks of the (solidified)
soda, the heat caused fusion of the
alkali and sand, thus forming glass,
The legend of Josephus states
that glass was discovered when the
Israelites set fire to a wood and
that nitre beenme fused with sand.
It talces 3,250 ties to carry a
mile of C.N.R. track. There are
99,290,710 ties used in the 30,551
miles of C.N.R. track in Canada.
Natural State
The languid youth sealed himself
in the dentist's chair to have a tooth
extracted. Ile wore a wonderful
striped silk shirt, and un even more
wonderful check suit. Ile also wore
vacant stare that so often goes
with both.
"Pm afraid to give him gas," said
the dentist to his assistant
"Why?" asked the assistant. "Do
you think his heart is groggyt"
'`Alo," replied the dentist, "but just
look at him. How will I know when
he is msconseionsf"
At the "Ex."
Theme of Canada's national. wo-
men's organization at the Canadian. -
National Exhibition this year is "We -
Build Canada",
.1".71/14iaT 0177/f/Mle
----------
THE PROSPECTOR
Hardy men, searching out the hidden
wealth of a nation; accepting privation, lone-
liness and the stern challenge of nature in
the hope of finding the elusive 'strike!'
Tho discovery of a nation's mineral wealth,
so essential to progress, lies in, the strong
hands and willing heart of The Prospector.
Men like this, some of Canada's finest, arc
in the service of the public—at your service.
DAWES BLACI( NORSE BREWERY
One of es series of advertisements in tribute lo those Canadians in the service of the Public
karlmseammalmearolnaM0aeoammatileamzememmentimMoccousimmenannamenevaram.
.emmulateemelimanne
POP --Figures Don't Lie
Vg1,1.!
II IT IWNI-E"
01.1? POP
^-, ••
By j. j. MILLAR WATT
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,r••• .7,1111