is-external=true" title="class or interface in java.util">SortedSet</A>&lt;<A HREF="../../../com/sleepycat/collections/StoredSortedValueSet.html" title="type parameter in StoredSortedValueSet">E</A>&gt;</CODE></DL>
</DD>
<DD><DL>

<DT><B>Returns:</B><DD>the first element.
<DT><B>Throws:</B>
<DD><CODE><A HREF="../../../com/sleepycat/util/RuntimeExceptionWrapper.html" title="class in com.sleepycat.util">RuntimeExceptionWrapper</A></CODE> - if a checked exception is thrown,
 including a <code>DatabaseException