These are indeed a lot of new white gloves on a Hills hoist.

The people we stayed with (via AirBnB) were a kind couple (the McColghans) with whom we spent an interesting evening.  They have the mutton-birding rights to one of the offshore southern islands, and go there for about 6 weeks a year.  The gloves they use are these white ones, which chafe if they aren’t weathered on the line first.