150 ORKNEY AND SHETLAND ISLES. 



absurdity of neglecting it : " If the King* would send olit 

 such a fleet of busses for the fishing-trade, being in our own 

 seas, and on our own grouiids, and all strangers were dis- 

 charged from fishing in those seas, that the subjects of the 

 three kingdoms only may have it, it would make our king 

 rich and glorious, and the three kingdoms happy; not one 

 would want bread, — and God would be praised, — and the 

 King loved." 

 Fermer fishery About half a century ago, the herring-fishery on the 

 at Shetland, coast of Shetland was very successfully prosecuted by some 

 English companies. But, through unaccountable misma- 

 nagement, it has for many years past been abandoned. At 

 present, also, owing to the troublous state of the North of 

 Europe, this fishery is more neglected by foreigners than at 

 any period during the last two centuries. Very few Danes, 

 Swccds or Prussians, I understand, now make their appear- 

 ance. The French and Dutch dare not. A few sloops 

 from ports on the cast coast of Scotland are scarcely worth 

 mentioning. 



With respect to local position, the Shetlanders them- 

 selves are best situated for carrying on this fishery: but 

 owing to poverty, the tenants or jfishers are quite unable 

 to engage in it : they cap only take a few hundred barrels 

 of the inferior kind of herrings which enter their voes in 

 harvest. In summer 1804, a scarcity approaching to famine 

 prevailed in Shetland ; yet herrings, in countless myriads, 

 were known to be off Unst. How deplorable to think that 

 the people should starve while there was, at the same time, 

 a '' waste, at their doors, sufficient to feed half the human 

 race !" The capital requisite for the purchase of sloopSj 

 nets, salt and casks, in order to an effectual prosecution 

 of the fishery at sea, would, it is believed, exceed the 

 ability even of most of the Shetland lairds. 



From Shetland, however, this fishery, if undertaken by 

 English or Scots companies, could best be carried on. It 

 would here be accompanied with least trouble and risk of 

 delay, and with least expence. Shetland is near to the 

 scene of the fishery : the Shetlanders are remarkably patient 

 of fatigue in the fishing : they are accustomed to very sorry 



—abandoned. 



Proposals for 

 its renewal. 



Charles I. 



accommodation 



