Exploits of guga hunters in print

Young gannet are caught for their meat

A new book has gathered tales from the annual guga expedition on the Western Isles.

Donald S Murray's The Guga Hunters is a history of catching young gannets for food on the island of Sulasgeir.

The former English teacher, who now lives on Shetland, also looks at similar hunts for seabirds on the Faroes, Iceland and Orkney.

Mr Murray has also written a pamphlet of poems, called Praising the Guga. The meat is a delicacy on the islands.

'Raise cash'

About 2,000 birds are harvested a year around Ness, on the Western Isles.

The meat is described as grey, strong smelling and salty.

Mr Murray's poems have been published by North Idea, a writers co-operative in Shetland, with help from An Lanntair arts centre in Stornoway.

The pamphlet and book will be launched at An Lanntair on Friday.

Mr Murray said: "The aim in bringing out both publications is to raise cash to commemorate the guga hunters in the community with the help of Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, the local historical society in Ness."