Shetland Islands

Shetland Islands, THE, make up with the Orkney group, from which they are separated by a channel, 48 miles in width, the most northern county of Scotland They number about 100, but only 29 are inhabited, the largest being Mainland, on which is Lerwick the capital, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Whalsay, and Bressay. The total area is 325 square miles, and most of the surface consists of utterly bare moorland and rock, the coast presenting a rugged and indented outline. Patches of barley, oats, roots, and potatoes are grown; but the breeding of ponies, cattle, and sheep is the chief agricultural resource. More important still is the herring-fishery, in which nearly the whole male population engages. The county returns one member to Parliament.