NOVEMBER 281 



atmosphere becomes rank with the intolerable stench of 

 boiling blubber; clouds of scavenging seagulls cannot 

 overtake the constant accumulation of offal and refuse ; 

 the bays and sea-lochs are made hideous by coagulating 

 blood and festering oil. Hence the bitter cry of the 

 Shetland Islanders, who, if they lack many of the luxuries 

 and much of the ease of civilisation, have been able to 

 count hitherto upon plenty of pure air and clear water. 

 Naturally objecting to their sea-girt homes being con- 

 verted into vast shambles, they appealed to Parliament 

 for the regulation of those whale fisheries which the 

 Norsemen have planted on their shores. Parliament lent 

 its ear. Last year, and again this year, a bill for the 

 purpose was introduced; and pity 'tis that time was not 

 found to deal with a measure which is essentially un- 

 controversial. But proceedings in Parliament too often 

 suggest the analogy of children at play. Too much of 

 the time is spent in disputing about the rules of the 

 game, in discussing whether certain rules should be 

 altered or suspended, and in one side accusing the other 

 of unfair play. And so the session ebbs to an end, much 

 useful legislation being crowded out at the last. 



To the reality of the Shetlander's grievance in this 

 matter I can vouch from personal experience. Some 

 years ago a small rorqual, about forty feet long, was 

 stranded in a winter storm, half a mile to windward of 

 my library window. The creature was the subject of 

 great interest to all in the neighbourhood. The frivolous 

 snapped their kodaks ; the frugal hacked out the whale- 

 bone ; but there was no apparatus in the district to deal 

 with the blubber, so the carcass remained intact. As 

 time wore on, decay set in. Evil odours were wafted 



