Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-02-04

Sta-fONhns In NOrNays
The costs of Norway, which are in some
places more rugged and grander in scale
than any of those in Scotland or the Hebri-
des, exhibit the characteristics of clif-iowl-
ing with remarkable completeness. Mr..
Lloyd, who knew Norway better than almost
any other Englishman, gives a graphic ac-
count of the system there pursued, in his
Scandinavian Adventures. On some OF the
magnificent cliffs two modes Of getting at the
birds and their nests are adopted-irom the
sea beneath, if the height to be climbed is not
too great from the edge Of the cliff above, in
other cases. When the men see their work
fairly before them. as viewed from below,
they approach the foot Of the cliff in boat.
\ pole, twenty or twenty-four feet long has
an iron hook at one end. This hook is
looped into the strong waisband of the fowl
er's dress, and he is liftedor pushed up by
men in the boat, or from any ledge of rock
fiat enough to sustain them the lifting is
something like that adopted by butcher
when he hooks up leg OF mutton in front
of his shop, but the fowler aids his ascent,
partly by his hands, partly by bird-pole
which he carries with him. When he is
safely lodged on any shaft or ledge of pro-
jecting rock that may afford foot-hold. a con-
panion is hoisted up in similar way. The
two men then tie the rope to their bodies,
the length ofrope depending on the probable
work required Of it. One begins to climb
up as high as he can being pushed up by the
Aattened end Of the pole held by his compan-
ion. When the uppermost man has reached
ledge that affords him anything like stand
ing room, however narrow and precarious, be
pulls up the other by means Of the rope.
And 50 they proceed No. > pushing up No l,
and then No. pulling or drawing up No >
The bird-pole, having hook at one end and
Aattish top at the other, is invaluable on
these occasions When the two men reach q
height at which the birds can be met with,
one plants himself as firmly as possible on
ledge, TO act as a stay or check; while the
other gropeS with hands and hook to capture
the birds. If the latter slips, the fcrmer
holds him up by the sheer resistance Of the
rope which binds the two together. Alas
for both Of them. if there ne any weakness
OF muscle or nerve at this moment The
birds, not expecting to be disturbed 50 high
up the face Of the cliff, are comparatively
tame, and are captured without resistance
q knock on the head seals their fate, prior
10 being heayed out into the sea and picked
up by the attendant boat. To avoid being
struck by falling bird requires very great
caution on the part of the boatmen, who
accordingly give the rock 4 pretty wide
berth, until the cragsmen, ceasing their
labors for a while, permit the floating birds
to be gathered. The velocity of falling,
full-ledged gannet would suffice TO staye the
stoutest open boat If the weather be fine the
4
together up aloit, when they can find ledges
broad enough TO sleep on, or recesses into
which they can creep food and other necessa-
ries can be hauled up by them from below
hard way of earning living, truly. In by
gone times there was a law in Norway strik-
ingly illustrative of the dangers Of this en-
ployment. When fowler was killed by
falling from the scarp Of these terrible cliffs,
his nearest relative was required TO attempt
the same adventure, if he succeeded, Chris
tain burial was allowed to the body Of the
deceased . but if he could not or would not
make the attempt, it was concluded that the
death had been caused hv reckleSsness or
want OF Judgment the deceased was de
clared 10 have been the cause of his own
death. and his corpse was awarded the un-
Christian interment ola suicide. This strange
law has not been acted upon in recent times.
Where the cliff is too high to be reached from
the water. the fearless cra-smen Of Norway
commence their operations from above. \
strong rope of rock-line, five or six hundred
feet long. and two OF even three inches in
thickness. Is fastened at one end round the
waist of a fowler, and then passed between his
legs in such a way that he can sit upon it.
SIX men at the top hold the rope, and pay
it out, lowering it by degrees o smoorhe
piece Of wood being placed az the edge of the
rrecipice. to shield the rope from chatting
against the rock. \ smaller rope. also
cOiled round the fowler waist. enables him
TO transmit such signals as "higher, 'l0w-
er, fright. 49," lit. ''st0p, etc. Ia con
slant peril from loose pieces ofrock striking
him in their fall, his chief defence Is
thickly-lined fur cap to protect the head his
body and limbs defending themselves as best
they NAV. The bird pole Is dextrously welded
By thrusting the end Of the pole against the
vertical face of the rock, the cragsmen can
spring out toa considerable distance. and
and approach the cliff again alta different
spot lie can do this even by the pressure
Of his feet alone against the rock. if his
bound is to be Of smaller range. This
NfTluED5 OUT anu IN d-tlu i Mutu AlDittl
where recesses occur beneath juttlng por-
tions Of rock the birds like To nestle in
such spots, and the fowler gets good haul
each time his spring brings him To fresh
place. In some situation, where the recess
Is large enough, he loosens himself from the
rope, wich he temporarily fastens to stone,
and, moving about more easily, captures the
birds with both hands these he ties togeth
er with small line, and signals to have
them drawn up. Again he fastens himself to
the rope, when his harvest at that spot has
been gathered Thus he viii pass several
hours Of the day, until fatigueor appetite i'm
pels him to signal to be hauledup. Il he be not
firm and steady, and if the rope by which he
is attached rotates, his chance becomes
very precarious. An old Norwegian Pastor
said that these iow.ers "often expose them
selves to the most imminent danger, merely
to get a subsistence for their poor families,
trusting in Gods mercy and protection to
which the greater part of them seriously re-
commend themselves before they undertake
the periious work - Chambers Journal