Shetland Folk-Lore
sive use of fish livers may be attributed the hardihood of the old Shetlander, and the almost perfect immunity from some fatal forms of disease that afflict us in these days. One cannot but feel sad to see some poor, diseased form of humanity advised as a last resource to “try cod liver oil.” Had the dietary afore-mentioned been attended to, the disease calling for fish oil treatment would probably never have been engendered.
But, alas, our inshore handline fishing is a thing of the past. The trawlers are killing the goose that laid the golden egg.
A WHALSAY MAN'S SOLILOQUY.
“O, for da days whan codlins wis rife,
Whan stap an' gree'd fish wis da joy o' mi life,
Whan frae moarnin' ta e'enin' on da sheek o' a gjo
Ye could ha' pokket or drawn da fill o' a skjo.
Dan a' kinds o' sma' fish adoarned da raeps,
An' piltik an' sillok lay soornin' in haeps;
Dere wis kippoks o' haddocks an' weel-speeted hoes;
Heads dow'd, vam'd an draven, affectin' da nose;
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