1883.] THE INDUSTRIES OF SHETLAND. 27 



As soon as the whales had fairly entered the deep water of the 

 sound a few fast skiffs were detached to hang on their rear in front 

 of the squadron till at length, by dexterous manipulation they were 

 pushed and guided into the bay where they were ultimately captured. 

 The entrance to this fatal trap is a narrow one, and the water within 

 is so shallow that the whales had no sooner passed through the 

 channel than we could plainly see their fins and cleft tails above the 

 water, and the hunt was henceforward carried on with the quarry in 

 sight and drifting every moment into greater danger further on in 

 still shallower water. 



Presently several of the big ' fish ' suddenly faced about, making 

 a movement not uncommon among their tribe. In a description 

 written as long ago as 1809, Dr. Trail, one of several naturalists of 

 his name and family in Orkney, mentioned this trait : — ' I once,' says 

 Dr. Trail, ' was in a boat vrhen an attempt was made to drive a shoal 

 of them ashore ; but when they had approached very near the land, 

 the foremost turned round with a sudden leap, and the whale rushed 

 past the boat,' The habit of following their leaders obtained for the 

 Ca'ing whale the name of Deductor. In our case it was an exceed- 

 ingly anxious moment when the Deductors faced about. They had 

 been driven a little too hard, some of the excited crews having taken 

 their boats in front of the line, and they were evidently on the point 

 of rushing out to sea. But the exertions of the laird saved the day. 

 Standing in the bow of an eight-oared boat with his hat off, shouting 

 at the top of an exceedingly strong voice, he was rowed to and fro. 

 "William the Xorman at Hastings, or Richard III. at Bosworth, could 

 not have excelled him in regard to perspiration or personal endeavours. 

 Borne along the front line, as I have said, by the steady pulling of 

 eight strong oars, he succeeded in restraining the too eager crews 

 which had occasioned the danger. 



Once more the whales moved towards the shallows, puzzled like 

 sheep when they are driven over new ground, but still without 

 showing much alarm. The Ca'ing whale is, in fact, the sheep of the 

 Shetland seas, and the boatmen drive him just as shepherds drive 

 their flocks, firmly but cautiously, so as to avoid a panic. 



The admirable management of the laird was crowned with success. 

 Henceforward the hunt continued without a hitch. Any outsiders 

 or wanderers from the drove were pursued and headed by boats, 

 rowed with might aad main in order to turn them back towards the 

 main body. Fugitives were brought up sharply. Any serious 

 diversion of the m?in body was arrested by stones showered into the 

 water. In the rear and on the distant flanks a constant din was kept 

 up by shouting and splashing, and in front the fast skiffs performed 

 . their delicate task successfully. 



