Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/141

 skins. The man who hauls stands in the oost-room, face to linebörd (starboard); the other man sits astride the shott thwart. His work is to take in the fish, unhook and deposit them in the shott. His sköne, huggie-staff (fish-clip), and kavel-tree are at hand. He peers intently into the water as the line is being hauled. At length his hand seizes the huggie-staff, and knocking on the gunwale, he utters the word “Twee” (drawing the ee very long). This is no sooner said than he calls out “Wheeda”; and presently he exclaims: “Wheeda-hint-da-wheeda!” What does all this mean? It is glad tidings. The short prayer at supper-time has been answered—“da mooth o' da mamik” has been opened. It means that three ling are being hauled up hook after hook, and that the whole three are visible through the clear water to the eye of him that holds the huggie-staff.

Presently a smile of pleasure may be seen on the face of the man that hauls the