16 The Cruises in the Faeroe Channel, 1899—1902 



weather, and the first time for three days the reefs could be shaken 

 out of the sails. By evening double reefs were required again ! On 

 the 22nd, while working in a heavy swell, the wire snapped, and the 

 G-arstang closing-net, 2 thermometers and 120 fathoms of wire, went 

 to the bottom of the Faeroe Channel. There was nothing to do, 

 therefore, but to return to Scallowa} 7 . 



Leaving Scalloway on July 3 with a new net, the 4th and 5th were 

 calm ; the 7th, under reefed sails, Thorshaven was reached in a whole 

 gale. From the 8th to the 11th with rain, fog and gales, anchored in 

 Thorshaven. Leaving on the 13th in a light breeze, double reefs were 

 not shaken out again until entering Scalloway ou the 18th. 



These brief extracts from the log of the Walwin for 1900 and 1901 

 show what sort of weather is to be expected in this region even in 

 summer, and the painfully difficult conditions under which work has 

 to be conducted. I therefore replaced the little Walwin by a larger 

 ship, the Silver Belle (130 tons), which, having been built on North 

 Sea fishing-ketch lines, I refitted as a yacht, putting on board a steam 

 capstan to perform the haulage. 



The Silver Belle left Scalloway on May 15 for Thorshaven, the 

 weather being ver}* much the same as the Walwin experienced the 

 previous years — viz., strong gales, requiring sails reefed Lying in 

 Thorshaven Harbour from the 24th, no communication was possible 

 with the shore for three whole days. 



May 27, after leaving Thorshaven, sails had to be reefed again, 

 and the ship run back for Trangasvaag for shelter, and next day one 

 trawler, four smacks, and H.M.S. Be/lona had sought the same refuge. 

 On the 29th the whole land was covered with snow. Leaving this 

 anchorage on May 3(1, with course set for the Butt of Lewis, double 

 reefs were required next day. On June 1, sounding on 400 fathoms, 

 a sharp swell and the riding of the ship caused the line to break, and 

 400 fathoms and the 28-pound lead were lost. On June 3 the ship 

 was brought to anchor in Stornoway, for two days previously all sails 

 close-reefed. 



