pbesident's addkess. 81 



but in these luxurious days the Gannet is not considered " a 

 dainty dish to set before a king." 



The eggs and young birds form the principal source of revenue 

 to the lessee, who employs experienced men to go over the cliff 

 to collect them. These men are so daring that they step about 

 on the very edge of the cliff with the greatest ease ; but at the 

 chief takes of the eggs and the young, ropes are tied round the 

 waist, and the men are lowered by companions standing on the 

 cliffs above ; a hand rope, which is fastened securely to some rock, 

 is used for signalling to those above when the collector is out of 

 sight and cannot be heard. More than two thousand five hundred 

 eggs, chiefly of the Gannet, were taken this year, 1880, and 

 about half as many young birds will be destroyed for the sake 

 of their feathers, and for roasting in order to obtain the oil, 

 which is preserved and sold as a lubricant. The roasted bodies 

 are sold in the neighbouring towns and villages, and excursionists 

 come to Canty Bay and regale themselves on a ''Guse and a 

 Gill." 



The old birds begin to arrive in March, and continue to do so 

 until June, but the months of May, June, and beginning of July 

 are the proper months for incubation. Owing to the nests being 

 often robbed some of the young are not able to fly before the end 

 of August, and when this happens the old birds are exposed for 

 weeks to the depredations of gunners who visit the Bass in boats 

 and for the mere sake of killing destroy every bird that comes 

 within range, while the half-fledged young are left to perish in 

 their nests. 



The Gannet lays only one egg, which it will proceed to incu- 

 bate if not robbed or disturbed ; but it would appear that most 

 of the flrst eggs which are accessible are taken for commercial 

 purposes, and that only a few of the first and early nests placed 

 in more inaccessible places escape. 



We did not notice a single Gannet in immature plumage among 

 the thousands that were passing to and fro, and we were in- 

 formed that only mature birds come to the rock to breed, and 

 that they are not mature till the fifth or sixth year. It is to be 

 feared that from the number of eggs and young that are taken 



Qt 



