GANNET. 
565 
practised in two ways. The fowlers either go from 
the top of the cliffs, or commence their pursuit 
from the bottom : both are sufficiently terrific, and 
are thus described in the introduction to the Arctic 
Zoology. 
Fowling from above. 
Necessity compels mankind to wonderful at- 
tempts. The cliffs which contain the objects of 
their search are often two hundred fathoms in 
height, and are attempted from above and below. 
In the first case the fowlers provide themselves 
with a rope eighty or a hundred fathoms in length : 
the fowler fastens one end about his waist and be- 
tween his legs, recommends himself to the pro- 
tection of the Almighty, and is lowered down by 
six others, who place a piece of timber on the mar- 
gin of the rock, to preserve the rope from wearing 
against the sharp edge. They have besides a small 
line fastened to the body of the adventurer, by 
which he gives signals that they may lower or raise 
him, or shift him from place to place. The last 
operation is attended with great danger, by the 
loosening of the stones, which often fall on his 
head, and would infallibly destroy him, was it not 
protected by a strong thick cap ; but even that is 
found unequal to save him against the weight of 
the larger fragments of rock. The dexterity of 
the fowlers is amazing; they will place their feet 
against the front of the precipice, and dart them- 
selves some fathoms from it, with a cool eye survey 
