OIL ON THE TROUBLED WATERS. 171 



They are veritable rivers in the sea, and Shetlanders 

 speak of them as " the string of the tide," and crossing 

 them is called " cuttiTig the string" Of these streams or 

 tideways, the far-famed Sumburgh Eoost off the south 

 point of the islands, and one near Burrafirth at the 

 north point of Unst, are the strongest and most dan- 

 gerous around the Shetlands. 



It is when running before the wind or crossing a 

 tideway in a storm — but seldom except when in ut- 

 most peril — that the Shetland fishermen adopt an 

 expedient which has often saved many a boat's crew. 

 They crush — or as they call it " crop " — in their hands 

 the livers of any ling or cod they may have caught, 

 and keep throwing them astern and around them. 

 The effect is magical. The waves are not lessened in 

 size, but they no longer hreaJc, and it is only from their 

 breaking close to the boat, and so being dashed in 

 upon her and filling her, that there is danger. The 

 rapidity with which the oil spreads over a considerable 

 space of sea around is marvellous, and scarcely to be 

 credited except by one who has witnessed the pheno- 

 menon. Shetlanders call the smooth appearance of 

 the water caused by any oily substance floating on it, 

 lioom. 



" Throwing oil upon the troubled waters " is there- 

 fore a saying which has undoubtedly originated in a 

 fact with which very few are acquainted, but which 

 cannot be too widely made known. That fact is 

 simply this, that x)il prevents the waves from break- 

 ing ; and unless they break, though they were twenty 



