New-York tribune., 1909-07-18
CLIFF CLIMBERS.
Their Search for Eggs Along the Rocky York.
shire Coast.


shire Coast
Although Farne Islands. the SciIues AHsa Craiza
St Kida. the Welsh coast the Kerr coast. ETC..
all are declared breeding stations OF the svIIsuuOt
marrat sCOot O-ra troiIe) the greatest and bsss
known resort or this bird IS the lofty chalk eli,
portion Of the Yorkshire coast. SAYS The Lon
don Globe" These perpendicular cliffs can, FOR ts
most part. be climbed downward AT well knsEn
pitches, each OF which boasts a number OF sWings
at varying attitudes. but. nevertheless there ara
many time worn. hollow. crumbina or overhUlp
portions OF cliff which remain iuvioats this day.
FOR many years four gangs. each OF four men.
nave collected the eggs Of guiIieuOts and razor
6iis at these pitches in their own respective prov
lnces extending over mile. always carefully r.
specting each others unwritteu right The climb
Ing season now lasts from MAY q tiII June So tls
numerous visitors combining TO make IT lucrative.
though very reluctantly is il a0and9ued a fOrt-
night earlier than usual IN Difference 10 the wishes
or the landowners and tenant farmers. 'Ful
hings and slack filings alternate. that one about
mid June being more productive than any other
ana Is consequently the greatest draw 20 collect
oTs- Ten years ago the four gangs used 70 SET
total of about sixty thousand eggs in a week which
included a "ful fling" as compared with soous
twenty thousand IN slack week Although tsss
bearers speak OF carloads OF egss being carried
or. the writer IS convinced that not more than
eighty thousand are secured during the season u
hye weeks by the four gangs combined. Each gang
divide their portion of cIiR into three parts, tho
nrst OF which is "clun'' on. say Monday ana
Tuesday, the secor on Tuesday and Friday. ths
third on Wednesday and Saturday: descent being
thus made at certain pitches and swings twice
week Purchasers Of eggs Just lifted can thus rsT
on their being fresh at any time during the season
Visitors often wonder how long the supply Of ssss
VIII hold out; but their fears of dearth can e4sy
be dispeled- Nature has IN many WAYS defsarsa
the wiles Of the cliff climber. thus sparins srss
quantities of guiIlemots' eggs and enabling us
young birds to come on In safety
The climbers first mate-that IS the logsrsr~
sits immediately behind strong iron stake Wiz
turning -fOrk-like head containing a pulley, os@
His heels Planted firmly holes notices
IN the turf so as 70 prevent his slipping tofSTT -
waist he wears broad leathern sirdle sllsn-Ji
grooyed. so that turn of the rope can so Sc
by gentle pressure from both hands HIS - -
and his whole nervous system are very sehs.sis
when below At his rear sit two more On u
turf. through whose hands the body rope 80 80 &
itself from the coil. but their work consists "a
lending hand TO haul UP the cliIHmss me. sISns-
anything else The guide rope or hand me IN an iSs
stake crowbar with Tinged head and t1g t1,gSSsTsi
END hanging slack over the clin within me cIisbes
reach. Its use IS partly to prevent the cll5r c5sr >
spinning round hepIcssIy when suspC lded % Hne ~
face Without grazing MS shins knees other
The man OF the moment puts ms Iess e-onsistAg
pair of breeching loops called '-sIings. eon5s 10
OF leather or woven hempen bands and mss--sn<
buckle at the front heltlike faceuOusly @ sa ln-
that he always feels safe In this gear 1900 -
fant in it's cradle. To it, by means OF q LS sfrons
eight knot Is fastened the body rope or % a.
Russian hemp, three hundred feet IN eHSss--rhSuz
culated to hold good for three seasons - ssrs
Slung over each shoulder after the fasnl0n ,Schss
bags are well worn leathern or canvas Hc~srrst
with straps OF magenta hue, these pens 9lstS hgs-
to hold the fragile spoil OF the Gins als tbiczT
crowned biIlycOck. silk hat. or heiflss -5ir Wts
padded with hay. and tied under tle es- s-, anf
twine, the idea being to protect his hsiu isacost
stones or pieces OF chalk which may oe oe.cssd ~
by the ropes friction His arms are Isafhsr1
ieathern sheaves and his right wrist ~ sss clH
gauntlet His short jack boots have Sc. 10 ar
turned down at the edges like horses11l sssrin5
able him at one time TO kick free OF 80 an 10
cliff at another time 10 walk Win S..SJ J.houldE
slippery or sloping ledges- Above Ol7 -vood m
sticks up a spoon. with linen bowl on - 10 cos
attached to hazel wand, which ne usSss unsY
eggs out OF corners and crannies OtasA w.
proachable. =, ,,flsrnot -
The ever-increasing competition IN 1..ssrs .
collecting Is based upon the fact INA. zach -
least one point OF dissmilarity betIes4 "a grssfs
brought to the cliff top The VaTiauO-, Il u -
than in any other British birds egg, 49, rs aike
exaggeratiOn to say that no Two eSsS r-TipBctI5
when we take into consideration uns unsaf "a ate -
OF minute details in shape, shade. spV1 hIxh ~
though sport or freak eggs are alSAys .-assss<2e
rnand these are usually the least psesKthsl ~
for they may range fron mud coioI ~ -ouf1 ~
cigar and the shell may be exceeoihsH
eidea.