1888

January

12th
Basil Neven-Spence, MP for Orkney and Shetland, was born.
20th
Delting Truck Inquiry begun, conducted by Sheriff-Substitute MacKenzie in response to a petition signed by 500 parish knitters and homespun cloth makers requesting the suspension of the previous year's Truck Amendment, likely at the behest of the local merchants.
29th
The Eulala, a wooden hulled schooner, of Dumfries, Scotland from Sunderland, England for Grutness with a mixed cargo of coal, cement and fish wrecked in Grutness Voe. All of the crew were saved

14th
340 whales driven ashore at Hoswick. A long court battle took place over ownership of the bounty, between the captors and the laird, Mr John Bruce junior.
The sheriff court in Lerwick found in favour of the captors in June 1889 and the Court of Session found in their favour, on appeal on 4th June 1890. In previous captures, the laird had claimed one half or one third of the catch but the court ruled that he had no right to this and that all the proceeds belonged to the captors.
17th
The St. Clair (1888) (LK144), a fishing smack, of and from Sandness, for the West Voe, Papa Stour, wrecked in the West Voe.

14th
The vessel Petrel, while en route from Norway to Lerwick, is overturned by a huge wave, but turns right side up again and continues journey.
19th
Schooner Snaefell wrecked at Gardie, Bressay.
24th
The Rival, a brig laden with a cargo of timber, of, according to the record, "Fredestrand", which is not known, and is presumed to be Tvedestrand, Norway, was towed in to Lerwick Harbour in a weather beaten state, then condemned after driving ashore at Heogan, Bressay. It is presumed that this is the date of towing in.