Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-21

and custom than those in any other fishing
community of Scotland Some of them en-
gage during the summer season in the east
| coast curing work. But all till the little
croft patch of ground; spin and ''waulk''
or "full' the noted handmade woolens OF
| Skye and Harris; and in their ceildlhs or
gossiping parties knit, knit. knit. with the
same rapidity and as ceaselessly as they wag
their nlmble Gaelic tongues
The lives OF the East coast fisher folk are
far less hard and sunless. Their houses are
| fairly good. They contain two and some
| times three and four rooms As is also
true Of the Newhaven folk, at least one
room of the house is neatly furnished, and
is always a bright if humble picture OF tidy
handed housewifery. on the Banffshlre
and Aberdeenshire coasts they are intense
| ly religious and are extraordinary dispu-
tants on knotty theological questions.
| They love dearly to harry and worry their
ministers, "outside O. kirk" with wise and
serious arguments. Their old drinking
customs are dying out. Thrift, sobriety
and excellent weekly newspapers are work
| ing genuine revolution among them.
The herring fishing industry has within a
few years given both the Orkneys and Shet-
lands unusual prosperity, as their total
catch of all fish is now equaling one-third of
the entire catch of all Scotland. Cod and
ling fishing is extensively prosecuted, many
| of the Shetland smacks going as far as the
! Farce Islands and to Iceland. All the fish,
ers OF these islands are crofters, aud seem
I to be prosperous and comfortable. Croft
| holdings comprise from three to ten acres of
arabic land, with hill pasture, called scat
tald, in common.
Sheep That Are Never Shorn.
At each croft home will be found few
L a r. Il. l.
| but ''rued," that is pulled; great focks of
geese; often a COW; and always the stumpy,
| sure-footed little "Sheltie'' or Shetland
pony. These with the Shetland women are
the beasts of burden. The latter will step
of nimbly with 20 or so pounds weight of
peat, kelp or fish in their "kashes" or
creels. These fsher-crofters of the islands
as a people are most frank, engaging and
courteous, though underneath it all there is
grave canniness and reserve far exceeding
that of the mainland Scotch.
Next to Highland crufters all these fisher
folk are the most superstitious people of
Scotland. Their customs and folklore
which have been the natural outgrowth of
their vocation have been practically change
less for half thousand years; and their
portents and omens are countless.
In SKYE If woman crosses the water
where fishing is in progress, and among the
Newhayen men if the name of "Brounger"
that of an old Newhaven reprabate who
was the impersonation of bad luck and once
lived among them-be mentioned, fishing
will be at once discontinued. Skye and
Harris fishermen have been known to beat
their wives dreadfully, not from any i'll
feeling but to propitiate and attract the
fish.
Curious Commentary on the Clergy.
All Scottish fishermen note carefully the
first person upon whom their eyes alight in
the morning. Their "luck" for the day
will depend on whether the person was well
or i'll favored. 1t is a curious commentary
upon the standing and Influence of clergy
men among them that a clergyman, pig or
cat are the most abhorred OF all objects as
fleets are sailing out of the harbor. The
sight of either, or the discovery of the foot
print of fiat-footed person in the sand,
bodies all manner of i'll luck; and to utter
the name of clergyman or any four-footed
beast on board of Scotch fishing boat
would render the offender subject to bodily
peril, and at least destroy all hopes of sue
cess on that day.
Along the west coast, however, they make
better use of the dreaeed cat They secure
tavoring winds by burying it alive in. the
sands of the seashore with its head opposite
the desired course of the wind. Up in the
Shetlands and Orkneys fishermen wear a
lucky belt containing dried offal of three
different herrings; and a perfect child's
caul, which wards off evil influences and
brings good fortune, hanging in the cabin of
a fishing boat, is worth from 10 guineas
II any prosperous fishing village.