i 
tothe stock on their shoal came on shore, and the other to 
an . The ed in driving them. 
proportion of ‘There can be little doubt that the herring 
; might be about Faroe with success ; but it 
. has never attended to. 
and the clergy, send Certificates of the cases § The only other source of subsistence which remains Bird-catch- 
tive districts to the commandant, who to be mentioned, is — number of sea birds which ing- 
Ly eveeeng and distributes the corn ac- nestle in the rocks. these, the puffin (Alca arctica) 
‘The farmers are divided into four classes, is the most numerous, and the most sought after. But 
i various other kinds are taken. The eider duck, which 
in some other Countries is so carefully protected for its 
down, is here often shot for food. The bird-catchers 
are exceedingly adventurous; and as this is the first 
ity we have had of describing this hazardous 
occupation of the inhabitants of many northern coun 
tries, an account of it may entertain our readers, | 
in the event of his losing: How The fowlers are provided with long poles, to the ends 
are settled seems to be a mystery ; but it of which ate fastened small poke nets. With this in- 
i rome te strument they generally display great dexterity in cast~ 
ing it over the birds, which ne en gee! make towards 
. the water when they are disturbed. It is this anxi 
Dg Ie eR Na ol ne To- of the birds to seek the element in which their securi- 
request, it is likely that the ty is to be found, which gives certainty to the ex- 
i profit, asa good ertions of the fowler. The birds push their heads 
exchanged for a few leaves, But through the meshes of the net, which being dexterous- 
i j ly inverted, keeps them suspended by the neck, 
When a en a is undertaken, two men 
keep carefully concealed. It t to be fasten themselves a rope, so that there may be eight 
ever, that the writer of this arti was in- of ten fathoms of it between them. One assists the 
the year 1808 other to ascend the rock by means of a pole, at the 
end of which is a hook, which is fastened to the band 
of the climber’s breeches, or to a rope tied round his 
waist, and thus he is pushed up: But the most com- 
considerable size used to be loaded once a year at the yion method is for the climber to seat himself on a 
prone kA Osteroe, and cargoes were made up board fastened to the end of the pole. They often as- 
at other places. At times, the caiig whale, cend frightful cliffs without an assistance. When the 
as it i Orkney, (and which is now su first has got to a place where he has some footing, he 
to be a ew speties,) comes to Faroe in vast shoals, helis the other up by nieane of the rope: to. witich hey 
are both fastened. When they have gained the eleva~ 
and the’ Higence is soot Spread to every cor- tion where the birds are pretty numerous, they assist 
a vous fleet of Boats is as- each other from cliff to cliff. It sometimes 
: for, Whatever may have been their employ- that one of them falls and pulls the other after him, 
ment, it is instantly forsaken to pursue these es, whien both are precipitated into the sea, or dashed to 
shoals of a thousand and upwards are seen pieces on the projecting rocks. When the rocks are 
pon Tape the islands. Being surrounded, they so high and as to render it impossible for the 
ew a where gd fowlers to pe 7 let down ts means of a 
a as th aag in Vaagoe, strong rope from above. To event the rope bei 
Sel renlis hetace toa a watt wificient to Sone cee oF wood is placed at the verge of the pre- 
float ther into the créek, and wlien they take ground cipice. means of 2 small line,’the fowler makes 
of death begins. ‘The animals are destroyed signals to above, and they let him down or pull 
ed Their oil is the chief object ree | alge lie reaches a shelf of the 
it is in rock where the birds have their nests, he unties him- 
is cut er ph Rg self, and proceeds to take them. Sometimes he places 
Fa ep ea: spars 80 a§ to admit himself on a projecting rock, and, using his net with 
pletity of air. its dried state, without any other Heed , he catches the natn BH t 
im ; and this they call heining. This mode of catchi 
several yards of birds is even practised while the fowlers are suspend 
' ‘When a projection of the rock is between the fowler 
When these welcome visitors have- been slain and and the place where the birds are, he swings himself 
secured, ate valued by the syssélman and his as- from the rock so far that he turns round the projec- 
es tythe is first set apart; but the largest tion. In this, great address and courage are requi« 
diem about half an English p of barley or animal is given to the boat’s crew who first discovered Fares. 
pose, lve per diem bout Balt sm Engi Ent tere ae the shoal, the head being’the property of the man who 
fishery @ of considerations ‘which render it a complica- first descried it. Another is set aside to be distributed 
nd provi- ted and troublesome business. The bette ee among those whose boats may have been damaged in 
ante town, Thorshavn, not being it , Yeceive a the attack. The provost, or dean of the clergy, has 
ed eamual allowance of one el and five-eighths one ‘allotted to him; and one is given to the poor: 
each person ; and this is not given to them all at once, The rest are divided into two equal portions, one of 
ions. The ‘people in the coun- which belongs to the pro ge Meg eo olin ig 
farms, and their Setar be een, fe agi 
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