SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 337 



We fhall, for the fake of perfpicuity, confider this 

 fifhery under two divifions, viz. The great rifhery 

 in the main ocean, which environs the Long Ifland 

 on the weft and north. Secondly, the lefier fifhery 

 lying immediately among the Hebrides. 



In fpeaking of the banks between the Long Ifland 

 and Iceland, and alfo between that ifland and St. 

 Kilda on the weft, we have few materials whereon to 

 form a conjecture relative to the fituation, number, 

 or dimenfions of thofe banks. 



No national attempts have yet been made to ex- 

 plore the northern feas ; fpeculation muft therefore 

 fupply the place of authentic documents. But 

 though we neither can delineate the banks, nor di- 

 rect the hardy mariners in their courfes, we can pro- 

 nounce that thofe latitudes abound in fifli. That 

 feamen, in their voyages, amufe themfelves by 

 taking them with the hand lines. That veflels of 

 various nations, are often feen in that employ, and 

 that the cod and ling, in thofe feas, are of a 

 large fize. 



Several captains of fhips having reported that they 

 found great quantities of cod and ling in certain 

 directions, gave rife to an opinion, that a great bank 

 lay between St. Kilda and the north of Ireland; and in 

 1761, two veflfels were fent from Glafgow, with proper 

 fifhing materials to afcertain the reality of the bank ; 

 but after having examined the leas, agreeable to their 

 inftructions, they declared, on their return, that no 

 fuch bank exifted. It was, however, ftrongly fuf- 

 pe&ed, that this important inquiry was not faithfully 

 executed, and no further attempts have been made. 



Leaving thefe unknown feas to future inveftiga- 

 tion, I fhall attempt a defcription of the fifhing 

 grounds lying between the Hebrides and the main 

 land. The principal bank begins near the mouth 

 of Gareloch, in Rofs-ftiire, and is fuppofed to 

 ftretch in a north-weft direction, towards the Butt of 

 the Lewis, and pofTibly beyond that cape. It 



Y abounds 



