A Scramble for Gold and Protein
During the California Gold Rush, San Francisco faced a protein crisis, driving egg prices sky-high. In 1849, entrepreneurs raided the Farallon Islands, home to a massive seabird colony. Murre eggs, larger than chicken eggs, became a prized source of food despite their fishy aftertaste.
Danger and Death in Egging
Eggers braved cliffs and aggressive gulls, sometimes falling to their deaths. As profits soared, rival groups clashed violently. The Pacific Egg Company claimed ownership of the islands in 1851, sparking decades of bloody “egg wars” that involved shootouts, stabbings, and even cannon fire.
A Government Intervention
In 1863, a deadly battle pushed the government to grant the Pacific Egg Company exclusive rights. However, over-harvesting decimated the murre population. By the 1880s, declining demand, competition from chicken farmers, and dwindling egg supplies ended the egging industry.
A Sanctuary’s Recovery
Today, the Farallon Islands are a seabird sanctuary. After decades of plunder, murre populations have partially rebounded, though they remain far below pre-Gold Rush levels.
During the Gold Rush, San Francisco faced a food crisis. Protein was scarce, and murre eggs from the Farallon Islands became a valuable commodity. Entrepreneurs risked life and limb to gather these eggs, sparking violent clashes over control of the islands’ rookeries.🧵1/3👇 pic.twitter.com/ODOfAFLVfO
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) January 2, 2025