Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1979, Qupperneq 22

Land Tenure, Fowling Rights, and Sharing
of the Catch in Faroese Fowling
Arne Nørrevang
Introduction
The present paper is based upon material which was collec-
ted during an investigation of methods and tradition in fow-
ling on the Faroe Islands. Some material was collected speci-
ally for the purpose. The material consists of printed sources,
unprinted documents in the Føroya Landsskjalasavn in Tórs-
havn, and a number of tape-recorded interviews with fowlers.
As the investigation proceeded it became ever more evident
that great differences exist in land tenure, fowling rights and
sharing of the catch, even within such a geograpically small
area as the Faroes. Therefore the material will be presented
by means of selected, representative examples, while generali-
zations will be drawn from a study of the total of conditions
known to the author.
Catcbing methods on the Faroese fowling cliffs
Geologically there are great differences between the various
types of fowling cliffs found in the Faroes. These differences
are reflected in the distribution of both the species and their
numbers. Also, widely different catching methods and methods
of access were put to use by thie fowlers.
On the highest, sheer cliff walls facing the sea breeds the
guillemot which used to be one of the most important birds
in fowling. These fowlings cliffs — at least their uppermost