VIII 

 SHETLAND MIDSUMMER 



T FACED northward towards Shetland for a 

 holiday, to be devoted half to science, and half 

 to sport. The science was to be done in a leisurely, 

 and unexacting fashion; not incompatible with a 

 considerable amount of freedom, and enjoyment ; 

 the sport was to be kept within certain limits of 

 an exceedingly elastic description. 



The serious object, if such it could be called, was 

 to compare the life of the warmer currents, which 

 break the northern termination of the land into so 

 many islets, with that of the chiller waters of the 

 North Sea. The only scientific encumbrance was 

 a tow-net. Now, as this sort of work means 

 boating, to which a net dragged through unknown 

 waters only adds a zest, science, and sport mingled 

 together in the most friendly fashion imaginable. 



And, the rough expedients for the examination of 



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