Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1979, Page 31

Land Tenure, Fowling Rights, and Sharing of the Catch 39
the catch was usually divided into shares in proportion to the
land (fowling rights) owned by each individual participant.
There are numerous by-laws — especially dating from former
times, before 1780 — ordering that all lot-owners shall be
noticed about so-called samgonga or joint undertaking. This
is also common practice in sheep-tending in the hagi today
and obviously in older times, part of the fowling was per-
formed according to the same rules.
Owner’s share
In all other cases the owner is ensured of his share of the
catch by being paid the so-called landpartur (owner’s share):
part of the catch is delivered to a representative of the owners
who divides it among the owners in proportion to their pro-
perty. The size of the landpartur varies from one half to one
fourth of the catch. The regulations on the island of Mykines
are most informative. Here, one half is paid for birds caught
in fowling places near the village. From more remote lunda-
lond only one third is paid, and from the farthest tip of the
island only one fourth must be paid as landpartur. In Fugloy,
where fygling is very difficult and strenuous, only one third
of the catch was paid as landpartur. Otherwise, the general
rule seems to be that one half is paid.
Fowler’s share
Upon closer examination, however, it becomes evident that
focus on the landpartur in dividing the catch must be a secon-
dary phenomenon, possibly evolved as a more practical system.
We may assume that originally (i. e. shortly after the land-
nám) all fowling was carried out by the owner and his siervants,
and in jointly owned places all owners took equal part in the
fowling. Evidently, the parcelling out of the land into unequal
lots soon led to discontent among the smaller owners. The man
who owned a small lot would carry the same work-load as the
man who owned much more land, but his share would be
small as due to his small lot.