Dr. Mac CuUoch on the Chart of Shetland. 207 



vior country is so little distant from the sea in any part, that a 

 map capable of answering the ends in view could have been con- 

 structed with very little labour. The sea-chart of Shetland is, 

 on the contrary, not only grossly incorrect in its general geolo- 

 gical details, but, with a very few exceptions, utterly unfit for 

 the purposes of navigation. It would be better, indeed, if no 

 such chart existed ; as, except in the very few instances which 

 I shall presently point out, a reliance on it is in danger of tempt- 

 ing a vessel to its destruction. Ii has not therefore even the 

 negative quality of being useless. 



The deficiency of the chart is not so generally known as it 

 ought to be. The name of Captain Preston, which is attached 

 to it, is no less likely to mislead those who are unacquainted 

 with its incorrectness, than the apparent decision with which the 

 rocks, soundings, and anchorage, are laid down; and it is too late 

 to ascertain the position of a rock when a vessel is on it, or the 

 badness of an anchorage when she is embayed on a lee shore. 

 In this respect, indeed, there is a striking constrast between 

 the chart of Orkney and that of Shetland ; while the excellence 

 of the former may also have the bad effect of tempting those who 

 have navigated by it, to place the same reliance on the latter ; 

 unaware that the survey of Orkney was conducted by RI'Kenzie 

 with the greatest care and anxiety, and that the chart of Shet- 

 land is little better than a map-seller's compilation, supplying 

 the want of documents with conjectures. 



To render these deficiencies better known through the medium 

 of this Journal, is an act of justice which public benefit claims; 

 criticism is not always employed in so pure and good a cause, 

 nor can our defects be remedied till they are pointed out; and 

 it is by no means generally known that this part of British hy- 

 drography is in so imperfect a state. If it were known, it is cer- 

 tain that the department of our government which takes charge 

 of these matters, would have long ago found a remedy; as is 

 proved by the laudable anxiety it has always shown to improve 

 the art of navigation. The recent establishment of a light-house 

 on Sumburgh-head is, indeed, an earnest of a desire to render 

 the navigation of Shetland more safe than it has yet been ; and 



