314 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



roads from end to end of the principal island, called 

 Mainland, and across the islands of Yell and Unst. 

 Gigs and phaetons and other wheeled vehicles are 

 numerous ; even bicycles and tricycles are occasionally 

 to be seen; and crowds of tourists annually visit 

 the islands. Within the last few years, fleets of 

 fishing-vessels and many thousands of fishermen, fish- 

 curers, coopers, and gippers, from Fraserburgh, Peter- 

 head, the Isle of Man, and Ireland, spend six months 

 of the year on the coast, vigorously prosecuting the 

 ling and herring fishings. Large curing-stations, 

 landing-stages, jetties, warehouses, and fishermen's 

 cottages have been erected all round the coast, chiefly 

 at Lerwick, Scalloway, Whalsay, Mid Yell, Uyea 

 Sound, and Baltasound. Great numbers of steamers 

 and sailing-vessels are constantly coming and going. 

 Cargoes of ice are brought from Norway. Large 

 quantities of fresh fish, kippered herrings, and smoked 

 haddocks are forwarded to the southern markets, besides 

 dried ling and cod and salt herring. 



Half a century ago, agriculture was carried on in 

 the most primitive fashion. The fisherman-crofter 

 turned over the soil with a small spade, and covered 

 the seed with a rude harrow of his own making — 

 a light square of wood, into which a few big nails 

 were driven — which he himself or some member of 

 his family drew over the fields with a rope. The 

 prices of all native commodities were ridiculously 

 low. You could, purchase a good pony or cow at 

 from twenty to forty shillings; a good sheep of the 



