Inshore Gugas

The recent storm had undermined a small dwelling of a tall one, which once sat on the edge of the cliff.  Its wall and floor boards now littered the beach; thus, Hantar and four of the tropers went about collecting the wood, making piles here and there which would be taken back to the lodges on a gathering sled.  There the wood would be stored and either used for building supports or burned in the kilns.

The morning sun had yet to rise and the little men moved about quickly to finish the cleanup.  The sled was soon on the beach, pulled by six other tropers.  These younger workers were known for their great strength and very quick speed.  It was this team that would be sent if there would ever be the need for a sea rescue.

As the last of the timber was tied down, Hantar heard the cries of Gugas (1).   These large white and black sea birds were highly regarded by the Nubbins, who delighted to watch the ‘sea divers’ plunge into the ocean after fish or squid.  They are majestic birds with a wingspan of up to 2 meters, and they spend their adult life fishing the sea. Gugas can spot fish below and dive from heights of up to 40 meters, and can swim to great depths, making them the most skilled and efficient of the ‘sea divers.’  

This particular group was much closer to the beach than was the usual custom and the little men could see silver flashes of fish breaking the surface as the birds pursued them.  The harsh call of the birds grew louder as the hunt intensified and soon dozens of the birds were diving one after another.  The cleanup party of Nubbins looked on, bringing their work to a halt; but as the crest of the sun appeared at the horizon, Hantar hailed for his crew to depart.  They bowed to the birds, thanking them for the morning display, and headed back toward the hollow where the sled could be pulled up the embankment.

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(1) Guga is the name given in Celtic regions to the Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus.  This sea bird nests in very large colonies off the United Kingdom, Scotland, and Ireland.  In North America their nesting is limited to islands in the Gulf of Maine, Quebec and off the Newfoundland coast.  The Guga hunt, an annual event in the U.K., has been the subject of growing public outcry.  This hunt, steeped in tradition, results in the killing of several thousand gannet (guga) chicks each year.