7 
43 . 
- b 
whales, and other fish ; and. to complete 
their destruction, man himself joins in 
the common chase. 
For this purpose, vessels from many 
nations used to rendezvous in Bressay 
Sound, to lay in treasures of this useful 
species. 
The fishing business here*' engrosses 
the whole attention of the men. To this 
they constantly resort in all seasons and 
weathers, and that in small light skiffs 
which they get from Norway. These 
boats go out about noon, and do not re¬ 
turn until three, and sometimes six 
o’clock the following day. During that 
time they often go twelve leagues from 
land. 
Agriculture, in the Shetland Isles, is 
at a very low ebb. The land being in 
general very barren, rocky, and chiefly 
depending on the tillage of the women, 
yields but scanty produce. The labour, 
in the lesser isles, is performed by dig- 
