The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

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442 'J'he Highland Monthly.
Fheill Brighde ; and until six years ago the fishing banks
were distributed among the various crevvs.^ The ceremony
of distributing the banks was carried on by means of casting
lots, under the direction of the priest. As the people
left the Church, they chanted one of their old Hymrs :
Athair, a Mhic, 's a Spioraid Naoimh,
Biodh an Tri-'n-Aon leinn a la 's a dh-oidhch'.
Air chul nan tonn, no air thaobh nam beann
Biodh ar Mathair leinn, 's biodh a lamh mu'r ceann.
Translated
O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
May the Three-in-One protect us night and da}-
On the tossing billows, or on the mountain,
May Mary's arm be our guard alway !
In connection with these religious services in Barra^
it may be mentioned that in some parts of Ireland the
fishing season used to be commenced by saying Mass on
the ocean. The late A. M. Sullivan describes this ceremony,
as he witnessed it in his youth at Bantry Bay. He
says :
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" Few sights could be more picturesque than the ceremony
by which, in our bay, the fishing season was formally
opened. Selecting an auspicious day, unusually calm and
fine, the boats, from every creek and inlet for miles around,
assembled at a given point, and then, in solemn procession,
rowed out to sea, the leading boat carrying the priest of
the district. Arrived at the distant fishing-ground, the
clergyman vested himself, an altar was improvised on the
stern-sheets, the attendant fleet drew around, and every
head
have
was bared and bowed while the Mass was said.
\
seen this ' Mass on the ocean ' when not a breeze
stirred, and the tinkle of the little bell or the murmur of
the priest's voice was the only sound that reached the ear ;
the blue hills of Bantry faint on the horizon behind us, and
nothing nearer beyond than the American shore !"
h-eland).
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(Neiv
There is a story told of a fisherman in one of the
Western Islands, whose prayer before going to sea was of a
similar practice formerly prevailed in parts of Shetland. Edmondston,
' A
who published his " Zetland Islands" in 1809, informs us that the fishermen of
the Island of Burra " divide the range of the fishing ground ; and the occupier
of a farm has generally also a particular spot allotted to him on which he sets-
his lines." — Fz(/i? Vol. I., p. 234.