PISHING STATIONS— SCOTLAND. 305 



quantity, and this depends to a large extent on the 

 weather ; but the small catches of herrings during the 

 last few years have been mainly due to the increased 

 attention given by the fishermen to the more profitable 

 fishery by the lines. Herring-bait is very valuable for this 

 purpose, and it is unfortunate that it can only be pro- 

 cured just at the close of the line season. It is said that 

 very many years ago herrings were fished for in winter, 

 but it has long been given up, and even in the autumn 

 the drift-fishery is a very uncertain one on the Shetland 

 coast. 



The line-fishery is also subject to a good deal of fluc- 

 tuation, especially as regards the cod, which, not only 

 at the Shetlands but also at the Faroe Islands and Ice- 

 land, become abundant or scarce in successive years 

 without any apparent reason. The fisli particularly 

 sought after by the liners are cod, ling, tusk, and saithe. 

 The last is taken by handlines near the coast, and usually 

 close to the surface at the edge of a tideway ; the bait 

 being mussels or fish. Saithe are particularly abundant 

 about Balta Sound and Dunrossness. Cod are also only 

 caught by the handlines, fitted in the same manner as 

 those used in the North Sea fishery by the Grimsby 

 men. Most of the cod are taken at some distance from 

 the land, and there are particular banks which have long 

 been famous for their general productiveness. Of these 

 the Foula Bank, between Foul Island and the mainland 

 of Zetland, is a favourite resort. Farther north is the 

 great Faroe Bank lying about south-south-west of that 

 group of islands, and still farther is the Iceland ground. 

 For these fislaeries large vessels are of course required ; 

 and in 1872 there were 66 cod-smacks, averaging 

 44 tons, and carrying about fourteen men each, sent out 

 from Shetland. The fishing season is from April to 



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