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- blades, + with some trouble, managed
to attract a [female symbol] deer. Used guts to get 4 martin [marten]
traps (jaw), 2 on each side of narrows.
Usual heavy clouds + drizzle as we car-
ried on to our gas supply. Filled up then
carried on. Heavy rollers prevented planeing [planing]
so had to slog way along. Rhino [Rhinoceros] auklets
seen in small groups, totalling perhaps
75. Seemed as if Marble would be im-
possible to land on seeing the rollers +
recalling the stories of the difficulties of
landing there. But rounding the east end
we came to a couple of protected coves
+ landed easily. Made our home in one
of the many old, sadly fallen apart,
wartime buildings. From our window
we look north seeing the odd seal +
otter in the kelp beds - and the surf
crashing at the base of the cloud-
hooded main island.
Each set 75 traps. Never seen
eagle [word crossed out] slugs so abundant. One eagle's
nest up 30' in 45' live S. [Sitka] Spruce.
Peregrines nesting on west end?
Murrelets flying in at night. (Pale toed
black-webbed feet found - Cassin's?)
June 15 [1961]
Surprised to find over 20 mice -
all good adults, caught in traps. Spent
morning skinning them then as day
brightened we climbed the old rotten rail-
way to the summit of the island. More
dilapidated buildings. Fortunate to have old
railway to walk on as mostly covered with
thick salal + Rubus [underlined] bushes. Many trees
logged off from top to alow [allow] better view.
Otter tracks on top - no sign of deer,
marten, or [word crossed out] rats, shrews, coon [raccoon]. Had siesta
in hot sun. "Mainland" mountains mostly
clear - rugged looking but most of snow
gone. Wind strong N.W. [northwest]
Day Birds: Few Brandt Cormorants, at least
2 pr. [pairs] Eagles, 1 pr [pair] falcons, Crows, Song + Fox
sparrows, Swainsons thrush, w. [winter] wren. Found
2 song sparrows nests, 3 + 4 eggs, about
1 foot up in grass clump.
In afternoon walked along N. [north] side of island
to West end. Flock of 15 seals scrambled off
rocks. Noticed at least 2 otter runs. Found
skinned out C. [Cassin's] auklets, head gone; all very
neatly done; wing bones nicely cleaned. - what
did it? - Falcons flying about at W. [west] end
but couldn't find nest. About 50 crows turned
up when cawed. Found 2 Cassin Auklet
nests in Salmonberry - 4' long tunnels,
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