Shetland or Zetland

There has been no agricultural advance corresponding to that which has taken place in Orkney, mainly owing to the poverty of the soil. The majority of holdings are small crofts occupied mostly by peasants who combine fishing with farming. Crofting agriculture is conducted on primitive methods. There are over 1,700 crofts of under five acres, but the average holding is about eight acres. Only about one-fourteenth of the total area is under cultivation, oats and barley being the chief grain, and potatoes and turnips the chief green crops.

The distinctive manufacture is knitted goods of very delicate workmanship. The finest work is said to come from Unst, though each parish has its own speciality. Women do most of the farm work and spend their spare time in knitting. There is considerable trade in hand-woven, undyed tweeds. Fishing is the occupa tion of the men, and the real mainstay of the inhabitants. Formerly the fishery was completely in the hands of the Dutch, whose supremacy was destroyed, however, by the imposition of the salt tax in 17 I 2. Then the fishery was neglected by the natives, who were content to use the "sixerns," or six-oared fishing boats, till the last quarter of the 19th century, when boats of modern type were introduced. Since 1890 the herring fishery has advanced rapidly, and the Shetland fishery district is now the most im portant in Scotland. The haaf or deep-sea catch principally con sist of cod, ling and sethe or coalfish. Herrings are cured at Ler wick, on Unst, and at several other fishing stations. Communica tion with the islands is maintained by steamers from Leith and Aberdeen to Lerwick, the capital, Scalloway and other points.

Population.--In 1931 the population was 21,41o, the females being in the high proportion of 124 to every too males. In 1931 there were 33 persons speaking Gaelic and English and none who spoke Gaelic only. The population has steadily declined since 1861, when it was 31,67o. Only 24 islands of the group are inhabited, and in the case of some of them the population consists solely of a few lighthouse attendants, shepherds and keepers. The bulk of the inhabited islands are situated off the east and west coast of Mainland, two of them being outlying members of the group. From south to north they are as follows (the figures indicating the population in 1921). Fair Isle (127) lies 24 m. south-west of Sumburgh head, and is 3 m. long by about 2 m. broad. It has rocky cliffs, and North Haven, on the east coast, is almost the only place where landing can be safely effected. From the sur vivors of a vessel of the Spanish Armada the natives are said to have acquired the art of knitting the coloured goods for which they are noted. Mainland (18,268), the largest island, is 54 m. long and 21 m. wide, though the bulk of the island is much narrower than the extreme width would indicate.

In

the promontory of Eshaness may be seen some wonderful examples of sea sculpture. The Grind of the Navir ("Gate of the Giants") is a staircase carved by the waves out of the porphyry cliffs. In the rock of Dore Holm is a natural archway, 7o ft. wide, and to the south-east of it are the Drougs, stacks of quaint shapes. Besides Lerwick (q.v.) the county town, one of the most interesting places in the island is Scalloway, the ancient capital, which stands at the head of a bay and has a pier, quays, ware houses and cooperages in connection with the fishing industry. The ruins of the castle built in 1600 by Patrick Stewart, earl of Orkney, stand at the east end of the bay. On the opposite side of the bay is Gallow hill, the old place of execution of witches and criminals. The ting, or open-air law court, assembled in former days on an island in the Loch of Tingwall (hence its name), about 3 m. farther north. Off the south-eastern coast of Mainland, separated by a sound 1 m. broad and usually visited from Sandwick, lies the uninhabited island of Mousa, famous for the most perfect specimen of a Pictish brocli, or tower of defence, in the British Isles. Hevera (28) lies off the west coast of Mainland, south of the two Burras. East Burra (169), about 4 m. long by I m. broad, is separated from Mainland by Clift sound, a narrow arm of the sea. West Burra (609), 6 m. long by I m. broad, with a very irregular coast-line, lies alongside of East Burra and contains a church. It is said to be the Burgh Westra of Sir Walter Scott's Pirate. Trondra (105), "Trond's island," is in the mouth of Scalloway bay. Bressay (583), 6 m. long by 3 m. broad, lies 1 m. E. of Lerwick, from which it is separated by the sound of Bressay, in which Haakon V., king of Norway, anchored his galleys on the expedition that ended dis astrously at Largs (1,263). Ward Hill (742 ft.) is the sailors' landmark for Lerwick harbour. Bard head, the most southerly point, a haunt of eagles, has an archway at its foot, and on the west side the Orkney Man's cave—a great cavern with fine stalac tites and a remarkable echo. Noss (6) is to the east of Bressay, from which it is separated by a channel 220 yds. wide. On the east coast the rocks form a headland called the Noup of Noss ("the peak of the nose"). Off the south-east shore lies the Holm, with which communication used to be maintained by means of the Cradle of Noss swing or ropes. Noss is utilized in connection with the rearing of Shetland ponies. Holm of Papal, "isle of the priest" (2), belonging to Bressay parish, lies south-east of Hilda say. Foula (149), 31 m. long by 21 m. broad, lies 27 m. W. of Scalloway, and 16 m. W. of the nearest point of Mainland.