The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-30

on to, but In this respect they are better
than the guillemots, which are even more
helpless.
knows himself to be when enea ged In his
dangerous employment, appears from the
fact that 1t used to be the custom-and In
some places remains 30 still-for him, be-
lore starting on n expedition, to bid fare
well to all his friends.
When prepare tons are being made for
such an excursion, which may entail stay
among the cliffs Of some fourteen days, II
is interesting TO observe with what Keen
ness the boys who are going for the first
time enter into all the details, seeing care
bird rock Is on the same island and not at
any very great distance, from the village q
boat is not usually employed, but an rule
1t ls necessary.
To gee an accomplished cragsman swing
himself in on to one Of the terrace beneath
some huge overhanging, mass when the
line has been paid out Some 100 fathoms
or more In wonderful sight. With the
mighty precipice overhead and the roar
OF the turbulent waters beneath, surrounded
wild cries. he swings In toward the rock
and out again, without once revolving,
until he can reach and throw himself on to
the ledge. When he has obtained foot
hold he gives his companions on the edge
at the thin cord which connects him with
them; then he detaohes the rope from his
body, hauls in lot OF slack and makes the
end fast. After that he sets to work upon
the ledge, WHICH is often very narrow and
filled with birds; and both hands not being
always available to apply the fatal
squeeze, his teeth sometimes are used II
the weather permit, q boat lies beneath
ready to pick up the victims as they are
them to his person and takes them with
him when he leaves. When ready to ascend
he gives another jerk or two to the thin
cord; few pulls from above and the rope
is dram an ot r AND the
to the brink Of the precipice above.
As an example Of the foolhardiness which
Is sometimes shown by the bird catchers,
the following may be told A crass aaan
and was busiiy employed With his net,
when, to his horror, he saw the rope, his
only means Of escape, hanging out beyond
the reach of his pole. BY some mischance
his end had become detached. After
It, bounded OF The ledge and was fortunate
enough to regain hold OF the rope; up this
he climbed until he reached the face OF
the cliff by thrusting his feet against which
be obtained the impetus necessary Tor
finally succeeded in relanding on the ledge,
To ascend the high, isolated rocks both
daring and dexterity are needful, Two
men, attached to one another by rope,
share the labor and danger The first
who goes up is assisted by his companion,
who thrusts the end Of his pole into his
belt when he has attained foothold he
helps up the second man with the line
In a similar manner the next ledge is at
tanned, and 30, climbing higher and higher,
they take the birds on either side. This
method, however, Ia a dangerous one,
and 1t has happened several times that
both men have fallen over, being fastened
together.
As the population Of the islands increases
and extends the inhabitants OF the Gins
diminish in numbers, and although the
use of firearms within a couple Of miles
Of one of the latter is forbidden by law
the birds have become more shy and diff
flcult to take
Bird catching. however, is not OF the
same consequence to the Inhabitants OF
Farce as it used to be-not 80 much on
account of the falling of OF the stock OF
fowl as In the Improvement In other means
of livelihood Thus the fishing, which Of
! late years has made great strides, EN-
| ploys nearly all the men and yields eK-
cellent results the feet consists now OF
about 100 cutters. with crews amount
ing to 200 men, and 500 open boats. with
crews OF 1000 men. Nevertheless, very
large number of birds are still captured
annually, and they constitute on some OF
the islands highly important article OF