Dr. Mac Culloch on the Chart of Shetland. 2 1 1 



In this important part of every sea-chart, that of Shetland is 

 lamentably deficient; and it affords a strong contrast with that 

 of Orkney, where all these particulars are recorded with the 

 greatest fidelity and accuracy. There is, in fact, in the chart of 

 Shetland, not the slightest indication even of the direction of 

 the flood, except on the west coast, far from land, and for a 

 small space on the eastern ; in both of which it is little better 

 than conjectural, and serves no useful purpose. This most es- 

 sential circumstance is not only entirely omitted in the channels 

 and near the shores, where a knowledge of it is most wanted, 

 but it is not even noticed on the northern extremity of these 

 islands, where the violence of the tide is such as materially to 

 affect the plan of a vessel attempting that passage, and is ex- 

 tremely dangerous to boats. I shall content myself with enume- 

 rating a few of the channels where the tides are most trouble- 

 some, or where the defect of this part of the chart is most likely 

 to be felt. In all these cases, it must be presupposed that there 

 is not a leading wind, or a sufficient breeze ; and when it is stated 

 that the velocity of these tides often reaches to five or six knots 

 an hour, or even much more, it will easily be understood that 

 such a wind may often be wanting, particularly to deep and slow 

 vessels. 



Passing over the navigation of Brassa Sound, since a pilot 

 may always be obtained there, I shall first remark, that neither 

 the anchorage of Simbister Bay in Whalsey, nor that of the 

 Out-skerries, can be taken without an accurate knowledge of the 

 time and nature of the tides ; owing to the shallowness and in- 

 tricacy of the channels leading to them. The same remark may 

 be made on the sound of Uyea and that of Balta; particularly 

 if a vessel attempts to take the latter harbour by the northern 

 passage. In shifting from the former harbour to the latter, it 

 is necessary to make use of the latter part of the flood and the 

 first of the ebb ; since, without the first of these, it is difficult to 

 beat out of the harbour of Uyea ; and, without the last, equally 

 inconvenient to beat into that of Balta. If a vessel, again, is 

 desirous of going from Balta Sound to Cloup Voe, or the 

 western parts of Yell, or from Uyea harbour to the same places, 



