Føroysk og japansk fuglastong: Ein samanburður

Abstract

For centuries the Faroese »fuglastong« (an instrument used in birdcatching) has been of vital importance to the Faroese population. We do not know how long it has been used in the Faroe Islands. Several place-names bear witness of this fowling method in the Faroe Islands (Matras 1933), and 300 years ago the »fuglastong« is mentionned in Tarnovius (1669). — As far as we know the »fuglastong« has not been used by other coastal populations round the Atlantic Ocean than the Faroese, until 1875 when it was introduced into Iceland (Johnson 1946) from the Faroe Islands.

The above article draws a comparison between the Faroese and the Japanese »fuglastong«. — Fig. 1 and 2 show the Faroese »fuglastong« and fig. 3 and 4 the Japanese. The drawing of the latter dates from 1897 (Machpherson 1897). — For at least 300 years the shape of the Faroese »fuglastong« has been practically unchanged.

All the main components of the Faroese and the Japanese »fuglastong« are identical. They are (see fig. 2): a handle (stangartræið VIII), a pair of ash supports or arms (sfangararmarnir III), a so>called horn (hornið VI), (the Japanese »fuglastong« has a crossbar that serves the same purpose), a net (netið II), a cord drawn through the meshes of the net
and connecting the front ends of the arms (fyritráðurin I), a cord drown through the meshes nearest to the horn and fastened to it (kósarbandið IV), a cord with which the arms are bound to the handle (vavið or íbindits VII).

It has been held that the »fuglastong« was of Faroese invention and only to be found in the Faroe Islands until it came to Iceland from here. The fact that an almost identical instrument is also used in Japan, raises the question whether there is any connection between these two instruments or whether the very great similiarily of the Faroese and the Japanese »fuglastong« is a mere coincidence. The present writer would appreciate every information that might throw light on this question. (Adress: Klaksvík, the Faroe Islands).