Nesting-Lunasting-and-Whalsay parish

NESTING-LUNASTING-AND-WHALSAY, a parish (united), in the county of Shetland; containing 2294 inhabitants. This parish consists of the three districts or ancient parishes of Nesting, Lunasting, and Whalsay, with the small islands of the Skerries on the north-east. It is from eighteen to twenty miles in length, supposing the whole of the land to be continuous; and about four miles in average breadth. About 1000 acres are arable, and the remainder undivided waste or pasture, common to the tenants of the two principal proprietors. Lunasting and Nesting are situated on the Mainland, but are separated from each other by an arm of the sea; the latter has the island of Whalsay on the east, and Catfirth voe or harbour on the south. The inhabitants are principally engaged in fishing, agriculture being but a subordinate occupation, and followed by the people only so far as oats, potatoes, and other vegetables are urgently required as a part of their subsistence. The system of husbandry is therefore on the worst footing, and no improvements have been made in tillage during the last half century. The population, however, has advanced in numbers beyond the average ratio of other parishes in the Shetland Isles, in consequence of the two chief heritors making numerous new settlements, here called outsets, on lands formerly uncultivated. The annual value of real property in the parish is £862; and the average rent of land, about £1 per merk. Gneiss is the prevailing rock, but primitive limestone, mica-slate, sienite, and granite are also found; and peat, which constitutes the principal fuel, exists in great abundance. A large mansion has been erected in Whalsay, at an expense of £20,000, by Mr. Bruce of Simbister, the material being grey granite imported across the sound of Whalsay; it consists of three stories, and has a wing on each side with extensive and convenient offices.

The inhabitants' chief means of subsistence are piltocks and sillocks, which they are able to catch throughout the whole of the year. What is here termed the Haaf fishing, comprising ling, cod, and tusk, employs nearly all the males, with the exception of those who go to the Greenland whale-fishery; it is carried on from the beginning of June till July or August, and the produce is sent to Leith. About twenty-three herring boats belong to the parish, and the aggregate quantity of this description of fish is about 3000 barrels per annum. Provisions arc frequently imported in years of scanty supply ; the cattle reared for sale are sent to the market town of Lerwick. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Olnafirth, synod of Shetland, and in the patronage of the Earl of Zetland. The minister's stipend, exclusive of a vicarage tithe of certain quantities of butter and oil, is £150, of which the sum of £69 is received from the exchequer; there is also a manse, and the glebe, consisting of twelve merks and a half, is valued at £12 per annum. The church of Nesting was built in 1792, and is in decent repair. That of Whalsay has been new-roofed, but is deficient in accommodation; the church of Lunasting has been recently repaired, and is well seated: they are both visited by the minister eleven times a year. A church at Skerries, situated at the distance of sixteen miles from the main land, is visited only once a year. The parochial school affords instruction in the ordinary branches of education; the master has a salary of £25 per annum, with £2 or £3 fees. There is a small subscription library, lately established.