Dr. Mac CuUoch on the Chart of Shetland. 215 



namely, that of Houna, near Norwick Bay ; treating as a rock 

 the real Houna, which lies at the entrance of Balta Sound. It 

 would be equally difficult to account for the assigned place of 

 Hascosea, an island more than two miles in length, lying in a 

 much frequented passage, and forming the very important 

 breakwater to Basta Voe ; it is moved more than a mile to the 

 southward, so as no longer to perform that office. 



In Yell Sound, the proportions, or relative positions of nearly 

 all the islands are entirely perverted, so as to render it difficult, 

 in navigating them, to know which is meant by any one of those 

 laid down in the chart. This misplacement is most remarkable 

 in the Brother Holm; while one of considerable size to the 

 northward, called Little Holm, is omitted. Similar irregulari- 

 ties occur in the position of the Ramna Stacks, and in that of 

 Greenholm, off Fedaland Point, while one of the former is also 

 omitted. As the passage round this Point of North Maven 

 which forms the northernmost point of the mainland, lies be- 

 tween Greenholm and the land, this error is the more inconve- 

 nient and censurable. 



To pass over errors of less consequence in the position of 

 Little Wya and Ossa Skerry, in the dimensions and position of 

 that Linga which lies at the mouth of Olna Firth Voe, and in the 

 omission of a small island at the end of Selie Ness, I may re- 

 mark, that in Wisdale Voe, an island containing not less than a 

 square mile, is converted into a rock. The position assigned 

 to the rocks and islands which crowd the bay, intercepted be- 

 tween Skelda Ness and Burra, are also incorrect ; but the in- 

 convenience that might arise from this is, in a great measure, 

 obviated by the channels which lead into Scalloway having been 

 laid down. It is for this part of the chart that the compiler 

 appears to have been indebted to Captain Preston's survey; and 

 it is certainly the least exceptionable part of the work ; thouHi 

 I must injustice remark, that an appended chart of Valley Sound 

 and Grueting Voe, on a larger scale, is also very correctly laid 

 down. 



Where such errors exist in the positions of islands of such 

 dimensions, and where so many are omitted, it cannot be ex- 



