The Helena independent., 1890-12-28
L0WLY BUT PROSPEROUS.
The Comfortable Condition Of the
Shetland islanders at the
Present Time.
Kelp Gatherers, Sheep Raisers,
Knit Goods Makers, Whalers
and Fishermen.

An Interesting Description of Their Many
Avocations As Furnished by Well
known Writer.
Especial Correspondence of The INDEPENDENT.
LERw1cK, Shetland, Nov. 20.-Whatever
their condition in the past. it would be dlf-
fcult to find any lowly people more gener-
ally prosperous and comfortable than are
the Shetland Islanders at the present time.
Their industries are kelp gathering and
burning, sheep raising, hand making OF
hosiery and other knit goods, whaling and
the universal fishing. The mineral wealth
of the islands has SO far been of little i'm
portance. At sandlonde, opposite Mousa
island and it's famous Pictish tower, there
is an abandoned copper mine, where in
search OF copper thousands OF tons
of iron pyrites had been thrown
into the sea. Chromate quarries
at Baltasound, in the North Isles. have re-
mained untouched for years: while in Bres-
say Island are slate quarries, but the slates
are too heavy for modern houses, and the
thicker strata are utilized for paving stones.
Lerwick being paved with sBressay flags"
The manufacture of kelp was former
ly carried on extensively, and still is a
means of subsistence by many. This kelp-
gathering and burning which is still a
source of livelihood on the Arran Islands,
Ireland, on the west coast of Scotland at
TREE, in the Argyleshire Hebrides, and in
many places on the Shetland coasts, is dan
gerous and destructive of health. Though
the word ''kelp'' is often applied to sea-
the burning of seaweed, from which
the alkali soda once SO largely used
in the manufacture of glass and
soap was obtained, and from which iodine
is still secured. The seaweeds are, called
by natives '.tanRles." They are detached
great storms sweep fortunate piles of the
clammy stuff in upon the Lodges of the
gios. They are gathered, stacked. thatched
and dried for several weeks, and in the
autumn are burned in rude open pits or
ovens along the shore, the ashes fusing into
stone, which is broken up before being sent
to the market. Kelp gathering furnishes
many picturesque scenes along the desolate
shores, as women and children are largely
employed.
The hosiery and other knit woo!ens which
COluO HUN VuO u0ANS VI oACUldAu WOulcu
are famous. They are as ceaseless knitters
as those of Connemara and Donegal, in
Ireland, and produce fabrics of wonderous
delicacy of texture. The preparation OF
the yarn has much to do with the lightness
and softness of their work. Fleeces are
ing,'' or removing the wool from sheep by
pulling it out by the roots, in ihandfulls is
still prevalent. The finest wool is thus pro-
cured; and the average weight of the most
priced 6eeces is but two pounds. The knit
work of these nimble- fingered women
formerly consisted only of coarse wooden
stuffs, and fine Shetland shawls did not
become common until about 1910. The
finest collection of knit goods ever pro-
duced in the islands was presented to the
princess of Wales on her marriage in 1863.
This season large shawl was sold at Ler-
wick for $75. It only weighed two and
fve-eighths ounces; and another which sold
for $45, weighed but two and one-hali
ounces. Some of the designs are marvel
ously beautiful.
The Peterhead and other whaling ships
formerly completed their crews at Lerwick,
and these times were always periods OF
great activity. OF late years Shetland's
interest in whaling has been principally
confined to driving the monsters ashore.
This exciting work is often tremendously
profitable. In 1845 shoal Of 1910 ''ca'ing''
whales were driven ashore in Quen-
Shetland, lying between Sumburgh and
Fitful Heads; and in June of the present
year shoal of several hundred was sue
cessfully landed on the east coast. Until
quite recently these shore whalers were lily
requited for their captures. The finan-
cially omniverous landlord. called the
''laird'' here, true to his octopus instincts,
claimed tie right, up to 1889, to tax the
poor Shetlanders one-half of the entire
proceeds Of all whales driven into shoal wa.
ter opposite or upon the shores of their do.
mains; "a sort of riparian right on the AL
mighty for what was sent to save man from
starvation on account of rents and othel
burdens imposed by the laird himself" ar
old Shetlander explained to me. As the
value of the blubber viii! average
@ $40 pr.oa per ton, ,, the so ood 1laird' otter ae
as his "right'' in single catch. From From
1889 to 1888 the "lairds'' we're consider.
ate enough to rob the whalers of but one
third. In September of that year the
claim was resisted in the courts; tn,
whalers won their cause; and the ''lairds'
have since been compelled to conten
themselves with the meaeer enjoyment o,
witnessing, rather than profting by, tn,
hazardous work.
When a drove of ''ca'ing'' whales appea,
on the coast, the news spreads like oil drop
on marble. As the whole town Of St. Ives
Cornwall, goes wild when shoal of pilch-
desert every other other vocation, even to ,
wedding, to join in the 'drive'' A rush j,
made BY the men for the boats. Will,
women and children wildly collect pnns
ammunition, harpoons, scythes, lances
indeed anything portable which ma,
assist in the hoped-for destruc.
tion. The whalers make all haste
and splendid cunning in getting between
the whales and the open sea. Their fleet Of
all manner of craft then gradually closes
in upon the pack or drove directing
by the splendid maneuvers of the different
boats the course of the whales to shallow
bay. So expert are these Shetland whalere
in driving that shoal of whales is seldom
lost, if time is given for forming the
drive we'll outside the drove .
If the whales once enter the chose1
bay. their pursuers come to Close
quarters, and then the conflict begins
Finding the water becoming shallow tn,
terrified whales endeavor to make for tn.
open sea, but are met at every point BY
perfect wall of boats, altogether fllet
with hundreds and sometimes thousand
of men seemingly desperate in their effort
nII1