20 HULL SCIENTIFIC AND FIELD NATURALISTS CLfB. 



fashion, but climbing was slow with so little assistance, and 

 the two men would sometimes rest an hour between each 

 descent. Later on, three men were employed, one to lower 

 and two to pull up, and you will find three is the number 

 mentioned in Seebohm's "British Birds." In those days, 

 however, the places greatly overhanging were left severely 

 alone. 



Prior to the passing of the Protection Act, a bad time for 

 both climbers and birds prevailed, and E. Hodgson tells me 

 that lie could not make half-a-crown a day at it, even when 

 taking his wife as "third man" for the sake of economy! 

 The climbing was consequently almost discontinued for some 

 years. With the increase of the birds has come a corres- 

 ponding increase in the numbers and skill of the climbers, 

 four gangs of four men each being now employed during 

 the season regularly at the Speeton and Bempton cliffs, 

 besides occasional raids near the Head made by the Flam- 

 borough fishermen. 



The right of egg-gathering belongs to the farmer whose 

 land abuts upon the cliff-top, and this right he grants to 

 the men who work for him when egg-collecting is out of 

 season. 



The season, varying as the egg supply is early or late, 

 commences about the third week in May and finishes 

 about the end of June or first week in July (latest date ioth 

 July) During that time each gang will collect on an average 

 about 300 to 400 eggs daily, or, allowing something for wet 

 days, when climbing is impossible owing to the greasy state 

 of the ropes, 130,000 eggs in all per season. In spite of this 

 the birds increase yearly. The price of the eggs varies, the 

 commoner ones being sold for sometimes 16 a shilling, some- 

 times 12 a shilling, and the better-marked ones, according to 

 the rarity of the markings, fetching from 2d. to 7/6 each. 

 Twenty-five years ago 3d. was considered an extravagant 

 price for an egg. Mr. Audas recollects requiring to be 

 persuaded to buy an exceptionally good red egg for 2d. A 

 good proportion of the eggs are used as food, others are 

 applied to the process of clarifying wine and dressing patent 

 leather.* 



Each gang of men keeps strictly to its own ground, there 

 being, from the birds' point of view, "honour among 



* The eg-g-s are now sought after by collectors irom every part of the 

 kingdom, and the competition thus set up has gradually raised the price 

 paid for rare specimens. 



