16 Dr. Mac Culloch on the Chart of Shetland. 



omission is particularly censurable, as the depth of Hagraster 

 Voe makes it inconvenient, and as there is a scarcity of good 

 harbours, compared with the necessity for them, which may 

 often be felt in this channel, on the east side of North Maven. 



In Hagraster Voe no anchor at all is laid down, although, 

 for a space of near eight miles, vessels may anchor almost any 

 where in this very secure and quiet place, in clean and good 

 ground. 



Colifirth Voe also forms a very convenient harbour for vessels 

 losing the ebb tide in the channel, yet no anchor is laid in it. 

 The draught of this harbour is indeed so incorrect, that no 

 vessel would be aware of its containing a smaller bay within, 

 where there is always smooth water, and excellent soft holding 

 ground. 



No anchorage is marked in Burra Voe, to the northward of 

 this, or, as it is sometimes called in the country, North Ru. 

 Yet it is peculiarly convenient for vessels intending to make the 

 passage round North Maven, as, by taking the end of the ebb 

 from it, they may ensure their passage round Fed aland Point, 

 with a whole flood, to reach any of the harbours in St. Magnus's 

 Bay. Independently of this, it is laid down in such a manner 

 that no vessel would expect to find a harbour in it, while a 

 sunk rock in the entrance, which is not easily seen in the smooth 

 and dark water of a bay, receiving so much fresh water from 

 the hills, is entirely omitted. I may as well add here, that 

 which more properly belongs to the examination of the coast 

 outline, that there is here laid down in the chart a bay called 

 Husater Voe, which has no existence, the whole coast from 

 Colifirth Voe to Bura Voe being nearly straight, instead of 

 being deeply indented. 



Although an anchorage is laid down in Sand Voe, on the 

 west side of North Maven, no vessel can possibly take this har- 

 bour, unless under extreme distress. From its narrow entrance 

 it is utterly impossible to beat out of it, and, from the preva- 

 lence of westerly winds, and the almost unceasing heavy swell 

 from that quarter, a vessel once at anchor here might be de- 

 tained for months. The same reasoning applies, and almost 



