New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-06-30
THE FARCE ISLANDS.
THE HARD LIFE OF THE HYMN SINGING
FISHERMEN.

FISHERMEN.
From The London Standard.
Mr.. Consul ViIliers writes interesting
port to the Foreign Office on the Farce Islands
which, he says. do deserve To remain
much beyond the range Of those who travel
either for pleasure or profit. They may. he
points out, be reached from Leith within forty
eight hours by the Danish Royal mail steamers
and will well repay a visit. though gather
that hotel accommodation is still To be provided
Mr.. Nilliers gives the following picture. among
others. of fishing life the islands: 1T must
rot be assumed that because the Farce Islander
does not cultivate much land or attend much
To the raising of stock he is unemployed:
the sea is his harvest field Active he may be
on land but the water is his element. and the
products of the waters are his sources of wealth
II IS as fisherman and bird catcher that he eX-
GELS. Ii is an endless pleasure To watch him.
whether he be handling the the rudder.
cleaVlnS now and again with the former a
breaker surSins off his rOckbOund coast and
threatening To swamp his boat. easing the
latter as blast of wind fills his little brown
sail as if intending To capSize his craft in the
midst of turbulent eddies, where currents race
at nearly ten knots hour. whether he be
hanging in midair on ;he face of fOwIing cliff.
sky above and surf below. with myriads of
cry and bewildered fowl flying around him.
forming. as il We're. a living snowstorm. while
ne DEITY catches them in his fOwlinS net
moves their eggs from their nesting places His
proWesS must he witnessed 70 be credited The
risk is great his life precariOus: a village is now
and again deprived by one storm of its entire
adult male population.
If successful what is his reward? y humble
leaves ms haro"r wlth a few companions in
slender, lightly built boat of an ancient ana
recognized model constructed To behave well in
rough sea rather than for any comfort. and
capable of seating four six eight and some
times ten men. His boat is provided with oars
with a and sail for use should the wind
prove favorable, water keg and a few pro-
visions. He is dressed in wOolIen garments
usually homemade. and in stormy weather he
dons suit Of oilskins. His gear consists of
some long lines, usually sin These are about
eight hundred feet long, and attached at short
intervals are short lines with hooks for bait
As bait he uses small cGalfish muSSeIS or pieces
of bird flesh With these lines he catches cod
I c"alnSh, halihut. herring and plaice frequently
capturing enormous specimens In fair weather
ne Will So out 10 the fishing banks many miles
from land
Even on his successful return. heralded by
the singing again of his favorite hymn as he
enters port ms !ab"rs are not ended. for even
II wet and tired he must Immediately cut open.
beEead clean and deliver his fish To a merchant
VINO weighs them ana deposits them, Salted in
MS cellar The principal industry is the treat
ment of split cod These. after sailing require
10 he washed and dried on the rocks a
lengthy process. engaging many women and
children during the summer months Most Of
these split cod are exported to Italy ana SnaiD
the market for them varying according To their
size Fish are also taken by nets as we'll as
by lines Resides the open boats, there axe
now nearly one hundred deckei boats employed
anu me fishing industry is being thus devel-
eyed These are mostly old English boats and
are bought cheaply, especially now that the
steam tfaWler has begun 10 replace their use.
Although the foreign trawlers with their broad
sweeping nets, frequently visit the distant fish
ing banks, and successfully carry To- the United
klnSdom and to the Continent holds full of
Prohtable fresh fish, no Farce islander has as
ytt acquired one. Trawlins is not permitted
WITHIN three miles of the shore, that is To say
inside territorial waters Further the presence
IN these waters of fishing vessels with travis
on board. although not engaged in fishing is
not allowed. except in certain specified cir
CuhStanctS according To a law which went into
force on February l. 1899"
h"ard ana lodging are To be had in the houses
OF the local clergy and merchants at IS I'D. a
1tS-a most reasonable amount conSitlrrine
the comfort cleanliness and food included The
prevalence of fog and mist even when il is NOT
dCtutIly raining. makes life in a tent unCOm-
portable The visitor must expect 10 live prin-
clpally ON fish, eggs. milk and poultry Occa-
s"haAy getting meat. fresh mutton that is
good and beef that is very poor Vegetables
and fruit can be purchased in tins as Wei as
ordinary groceries,"