14 THE HERRING FISHERIES. 



double-decked mainland Scotch boats, they have not only 

 increased the number and size of the latter, but solely with 

 the view to prosecute the herring fishery ; as an instance, 

 the following statistics will show this. In 1880, the number 

 of boats was increased to 217. The success attending the 

 fishermen for that year led to an increase of boats, which 

 rose to 276 as against 217 for the year 1881 ; also 125 large 

 decked boats as against 72 ; and in the year 1879 Shetland 

 only possessed six large herring boats : this favourable 

 account for this district is still on the increase. The terrible 

 north-west gale which broke over the Shetland district on 

 July 20, 1 88 1, cost them the loss often boats and fifty- 

 eight lives ; but as many will remember, the season was a 

 bad one all through ; many valuable lives were lost, for on 

 the east coast alone not less than one hundred and thirty- 

 four fishermen perished within sight of home and friends. 

 A fisherman's wife, writing about Shetland, says, " Instead 

 of a fund for widows and orphans, could something not be 

 done to save us being made such ? " 



The " haafs," or deep-sea boats of Shetland, are really 

 what we termed them, " skiffs," barely able to carry 60 cwt. 

 of fish ; they resemble the Norwegian yawl, but having a 

 greater spring from stem to stern. 



Round the many points and promontories, and between 

 the islands, numerous and dangerous tideways run at a 

 fearful velocity. " Cutting the string " means crossing these 

 tideways, and this is only attempted at slack tides ; when it 

 has to be performed at full tides, the danger will to some 

 extent be understood ; the livers of the fish are crushed to 

 prevent the waves breaking called " lioom ; " when this so- 

 called " cutting the string " is not attempted, then they 

 scud before the wind under bare poles. 



It would prove an advantage to all connected were the 



