Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-02


on the California coast for cable sta
ton. The Farallone group is composed
of six rugged islets standing cut pa
miles from the Golden Gate. The Span
ish word Farallone signifies "pointed
islets in the sea This group is in a
direct line with the Hawaiian Islands,
and this is the first hand, or rather point
of rocks, the traveller sees as he nears
the golden shores of California from
across the Pacific.
The southernmcst island, which is
also the largest, stands ont about a
mile from the others of the group =;
hence this one is most likely to be Sc
lected for the cable landing. This is-
land, or South Farallone, extends about
one mile from east to west and is $40
feet in height. 1t is broken and wa
ter worn rock Of angular peaks, pos
sessing but little soil and consequently
very scant vegetation. However, it has
the advantage OF a small beach, where
landing is easily made and an open de-
preston which is also utilized as a
landing. The other islands are not SO
favored. This island is used by the gen.
eral government for lighthouse sta
ton and by scores Of sea lions. murres,
sea gulls and other birds, with large
sprinkling Of jack rabbits, who make
this bleak island their home. The light
house keepers and their families are the
only inhabitants except the egg poach-
ers, who visit the island to rob the
nests of these birds for the San Francis
co markets. With cable station the
population Of the island would increase
and village gradually spring up.
Very few pleasure seekers or travel
have visited these islands This is
owing to the lack of regular communi.
cation. The tugs that go out to the
Farallones take only their crews and
pilots who go TO steer in the incoming
ships and these tugs seldom land at
the islands, They lay off, or go out far
Their and wait for vessel. AS soon as
one is spied, tho rival Tugs start ont at
the top of their speed like a privateer
bearing down on prize merchant ship.
( Should the islands be made the cable
station regular communication would
be established, no doubt, and the next
/ thing in order would be hotel fol
! tourists. The living would be high Gao
feet), with no end of eggs in all styles
fish and rabbits, mutton (grown wild,
and sea lion steaks. Fishing is also good
and the visiting tourist could vie with
the sea lion in this sport, only that the
noble sea lion catches fish as a matter
of business, Occasionally some poachers
have visited the islands and caugh,
lion is lassoed while asleep upon rocl
and after being hauled in is placed in O
water tank for shipment.
The visiting tourist would find any
number of murre and sea gulls, anC
while he is prohibited from shooting
them he would take some satisfaction
in the sight of fine shot. No one
could miss if the gun is pointed up
ward, as they are as thick as mosquitoe,
in Florida.
OF all the birds on the islands only
the eggs Of the murre and the sea gul
are eaten. The eggs of the murre are
favorite dish and in great demand a.
the San Francisco restaurants, wher,
they find a ready sale and quick con
sumption The gull also eats murre egg
and in the raw state. While the egger
are gathering them in, hundreds of gull
soar aloft and swoop down upon the ege
gatherers, take up an egg in each claw
or in the beak and are soon up and al
most out Of sight. Some of the egger
say that a gull will toss up an egg ant
catch it in his beall as it comes dowl
and swallow it, as if he were practicin,
at jugglery. But this is probably ;
"fake" story. 1t is, however, true tina
a number of them will attack an eggel
if he resists when they claim part o.
his spoils, The murre is not good to eat
though Italian fishermen find no diff
Guilty in digesting the meat. This birC
feeds on jellyfsh and sea grass. Shag
and parrots are also numerous on thes,
islands. All of the islands are covered
with these birds, but the largest, o
south Farallone, seems to be their gen
eral headquarters. The birds are no
enumerated by numbers, but reckonet
by acres j. M, SCANLAND.