Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1979, Page 23

Land Tenure, Fowling Rights, and Sharing of the Catch
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parts — were approached from the upper edge. Sometimes the
fowler was lowered down the cliff tied to a rope that might
have been 120 fathoms long. The adult guillemots were caught
by a long-handled net (at fygla) and the eggs were collected
(at ræna). After the catch as many as 20 men, or more, were
needed to haul the fowler and his catch up to safe ground
again. Often the cliffs were so hight that a minor team —
10 or 12 men — were lowered halfway down onto a wide
ledge, whence they were able to fowl the lower parts of the
cliff. In some cases the cliff was climbed from below, masts
and poles being used in a joint effort. These parties of 4—12
men were usually brought in by boat.
At the foot of the cliffs young guillemots often sat on
skerries and flat cliffs, and were caught with nets from a
boat rowed along the cliffs (taka hellufugl). The birds that
bred in the lowest parts of the cliffs could be taken when
they launched themselves from their ledge, heading for the sea
(omanfleyg).
The most important species for fowling at present is the
puffin, and probably it has always been so. It breeds on grassy
slopes above the sheer cliffs or scattered about precipitous head-
lands. Also, on top of free-standing cliffs — stacks — there
may be called lundaland.
Puffins are caught in their nesting holes which they dig into
the turf (dráttur) and often the egg is taken, too. The most
ímportant catching method, however, is the so-called fleyging.
The birds are caught in mid flight by means of long-handled
nets, swung up from behind thie passing bird.
In many places the lundaland was of comparatively easv
access, and one man might fowl alone. In more inaccessible
places two fowlers often worked together, while in difficult
places as many as four to six men would take part in a fowling
party, carrying smaller ropes, poles etc.
Ownership
It is a general principle that while the sea is free to anyone,