of the Shetland I^landsy . 
these lighten the boat so much as tliat she willnot appearj ac- 
cording to the phrase of the fishermen, just ^ij}jj^?w«vwith.th^^ 
water. The skate and halibut which may be taken, are reserved 
to supply the tables of the fishermen. That formidable looking 
fish the stone-biter, (Anarhichus Lupus), is also esteemed good 
eating. When all the tows are heaved up, they are deposited 
in the bow of the boat. 
If the weather be moderate, a crew does not need to be de- 
tained at the Feideland Haaf more than a day and a half. But 
too often a gale comes on, -—the men are reluctant to cut their 
lines, and the most dreadful consequences ensue. About two 
years ago Mr Watson, the respectable minister of Northmavine, 
Communicated to the editor of an Edinburgh paper a striking 
instance of the misfortunes to which the -fishermen are liable. 
In speaking of a number of boats that went off* to the, Haaf, he 
remarked, that about the time they were laying their lines, 
it blew strong from the south-east, so that it was with much dif- 
ficulty they could haul them in again. The storm increased 
and blew off land ; two boats particularly were in great distress; 
they having lost their sails, and being quite worn out with fa- 
tigue, were able to do Very little for their own safety. Luckily 
the wind shifted to the westward, and on the third day the crews 
all reached land, completely exhausted with hunger and labour, 
having had nothing but a very little bread and some water. 
Two of the men, one in each of the boats which suffered most, 
died before they came to land, and the rest were not able to 
walk to their houses without assistance.” 
III. Account of the Isle (f Stenness^ the Holes (fScraada^ and 
the Grind of the Navir. 
The Isle of Stenness, and the Skerry of Eshaness, appear 
at a short distance, exposed to the uncontrolled fury of the 
Western Ocean. The isle presents a scene of unequalled de- 
solation. In stormy winters, huge blocks of stones are over- 
turned, or are removed far from their native beds, and hurried 
up a slight acclivity to a distance almost incredible. In the 
winter of 1802, a tabular-shaped mass, 8 feet 2 inches, by 7 
feet, and 5 feet 1 inch thick, was dislodged from its bed, and 
