78 THE SHETLAND FISHERMEN. 



ing-season begins early in April, and ends about the 

 middle of August ; during which time each vessel gene- 

 rally accomplishes three trips to Faroe. The fishing- 

 ground is either "on the coast," that is, in the bays, and 

 in the channels which intersect the archipelago, or " on 

 the bank," a famous resort for cod, about sixty miles 

 south-west of Faroe. This bank is about forty- five miles 

 long by thirty broad. 



The fish are caught on " hand-lines," of two hooks each, 

 baited with various kinds of shell-fish. The " buckies," 

 as those chiefly in use are called, are dredged before the 

 smacks leave Shetland, and preserved alive in small 

 perforated boxes, hung alongside the boat, or at all events 

 kept in a position that allows the free passage of salt- 

 water. Some of the smacks, however, are furnished with 

 wells, which has been found a capital arrangement for 

 keeping the " buckies " in good condition, as well as for 

 carrying the cod alive to market. But Dr. Cowie states 

 that it is only on rare occasions, as at the end of a season, 

 when there are other reasons for sending a welled smack 

 to a southern port, that live cod are sold. " The ordi- 

 nary practice is to gut, split, and wash the cod as they 

 are caught, and stow them in the hold amongst salt. 

 They are further cleaned, scrubbed, pressed, and ulti- 

 mately dried on the beach, after the smacks return 

 home." We are inclined to believe, however, that a 

 greater preference is every year being given to welled 

 smacks, and that the quantity of live cod sent to the 

 markets is constantly on the increase. 



There are three kinds of fisheries pursued by the hardy 

 Slietlanders : the deep sea or ha'ag, to which we are now 

 alluding, the coast, and the herring, the last being al- 



