8 THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S GUIDE 



to each, are the only implements necessary; some-, 

 times two boys furnished with four such rods get 

 into a boat, which is gently pulled along by one, 

 while the other is sufficiently occupied in hauling 

 in the lines, not unfrequently with a fish on every 

 hook. 



There are a few salmon, but they are seldom 

 caught ; the lakes and sea abound with fine trout, 

 some of which nearly equal the salmon in size, and 

 have a peculiarly fine flavour \ there is also an 

 abundance of shell-fish, such as the muscle, oyster, 

 cockle, razor-fish, commonly called spouts, all o! 

 which are very cheap ; the oysters are very fat 

 and are about eightpence per hundred, Although 

 lobsters are very plentiful in Orkney, and consi- 

 derable numbers are taken from thence to supply 

 the London markets, I never saw one all the time 

 I was in Shetland ; still I have no doubt they 

 prove abundant if sought after. 



All vegetables are scarce with the exception of 

 potatoes, which are in general very plentiful ; they 

 are small, but those taken out by the fishing-ships 

 are found to keep much longer than the English 

 ones, and they also possess another advantage, that 

 of being obtained much cheaper. 



There are but few respectable lodgings in Ler- 

 wick, and but one regularly established inn 3 and 



