Dr Hlbbert 07i the Discovei^ of the Shetland Cod-bank. 139 
ductiveness ; and a very brief account of the result of my in- 
quiry was communicated to the public in January 1818. The 
testimonies which I obtained from various individuals, only 
disagreed on subordinate points ; but these I have been enabled 
to correct and enlarge by the experience of another unprece- 
dented season of successful fishing conducted on the new bank. 
The cod-bank of Shetland is described by the fishermen as 
lying from twenty-five to thirty miles west of Foula. That its 
extent is very great, all who have fished upon it agree. The infor- 
mation politely given me by Mr Sheriff* Duncan of Lerwick 
fully corroborates the previous statement I had made on the 
subject last year. ‘‘ The fishing vessels,” says this gentle- 
man, spread themselves so widely over the bank, that it sel- 
dom happens that more than two or three are in sight of each 
other at the same time, yet they have never reached its utmost 
boundary.” I shall, however, communicate what is known of 
its extent, from the experience of a former season. The bank 
appears to commence near the cluster of Islands bearing the 
name of Orkney : it is said to lie into the land about sixteen miles. 
The fishermen refer to the west of Westray as its origin ; and 
from thence it is continued in a direction nearly N. by W. having 
been variously entered upon in steering from the east, even as 
far distant as about twenty miles north-west of Shetland. If 
this information be correct, it would give to what is known of 
the extent of the bank, a distance of about 140 miles. 
Respecting the depth of water on the bank, I reported last 
year, that it was from 28 to 47 fathoms : the information re- 
cently given me, assigns to it a depth of from 40 to 50 fathoms. 
This discrepance of opinion, which is not of material conse- 
quence, probably arises from the difference of observations 
taken near the origin of the bank at Orkney, or to the west of 
Foula, where its form becomes more definite. Its breadth has 
been reported to me as varying from 18 to 45 miles ; here also 
I have met with some little difference of opinion, which natu- 
rally arises from an indecision respecting the exact depth to 
which its boundaries or shelving sides may be referred, and 
* I am indebted to Mr Duncan, through the medium of my friend, Mr Ross, 
late of Lerwick, for much information relating to the success of this year’s fishery. 
2 
