GANNET. 
566 
the places where the birds nestle, and again shoot 
into their haunts. In some places the birds lodge 
in deep recesses. The fowler will alight there, dis- 
engage himself from the rope, fix it to a stone, 
and at his leisure collect the booty, fasten it to his 
girdle, and resume his pendulous seat. At times 
he will again spring from the rock, and in that at- 
titude, with a fowling-net placed at the end of a 
staff, catch the old birds which are flying to and 
from their retreats. When he has finished this 
dreadful employ, he gives a signal to his friends 
above, who pull him up, and share the hard-earned 
profit. The feathers are preserved for exportation ; 
the flesh is partly eaten fresh ; but the greater pro- 
portion dried for winter’s provision. 
Folding from below. 
The fowling from below has its share of dan- 
ger. The party goes on the expedition in a boat ; 
and when it has attained the base of the precipice, 
one of the most daring, having fastened a rope 
about his waist, and furnished himself with a long 
pole with an iron hook at one end, either climbs, 
or is thrust up by his companions, (who place a pole 
under his breech,) to the next footing-spot he can 
reach. He by means of the rope brings up one 
of the boat’s crew ; the rest are drawn up in the 
same manner ; and each is furnished with his rope 
and fowling-staff. They then continue their pro- 
gress upwards in the same manner, till they arrive 
at the region of birds ; and wander about the face 
