FISHING STATIONS— SCOTLAND. 279 



1871 ; of these 37 boats the greater part were full- 

 decked, and in material, finish, and equipment they 

 are stated to be all that could be desired." 



Encouraging as these reports are, the change from 

 open to decked boats has hitherto been only a partial 

 one, although it has been begun at many places on the 

 east coast. Few things are more difficult than to 

 induce fishermen generally to work in any other way 

 or by any other means than what they have been 

 accustomed to ; and it will probably be some time yet 

 before the advantage of decked boats is universally 

 acknowledged by the Scotch fishermen. There is reason 

 to hope, however, that it will be only a question of time ; 

 but the old Norsemen at the Shetlands may well be ex- 

 cused if they are content with the many undoubted 

 good qualities of the open yawls which have long done 

 good service on their dangerous coasts. On the western 

 side of Scotland ojoen boats are, we believe, still almost 

 exclusively used ; there is a larger proportion of small 

 boats there than on the eastern side, and the fishermen 

 as a rule do not work so far from land. Still there are 

 numerous boats, especially from the Outer Hebrides 

 and the Campbelton districts, which go far away from 

 their own waters and take part in the herring fishery 

 both on the east coast and in the Irish Sea. These are 

 only the larger boats, and it is impossible to doubt that 

 an advantage would be gained by having them decked. 



Among the changes which have been introduced in 

 modern fishing boats, we may mention the adoption 

 in sonie cases of the composite style of building — that 

 of wooden planking on an iron frame. The lightness 

 and strength resulting from this combination have been 

 well proved in trading vessels of various size; and 

 although the system is undoubtedly of particular advan- 



