48 FISHING INDUSTUY OF PLYMOUTH. 



System of Fishing. — The fleet system of fishing is not in 

 use in the Channel. That is to say, there are no " carriers/' 

 steam, or sailing vessels which collect fish from the 

 trawlers on the fishing grounds and bring it to market. 



Each smack caiTies its own fish home. Hence fishing 

 is always carried on comparatively near the shore, and the 

 area fished over by boats landing their fish in Plymouth is 

 necessarily small. This system is called the " single boating 

 system.'" 



Why the fleet system of fishing is not carried on here I 

 do not know, but one of the reasons advanced why it should 

 not be is, that gales in the Channel, especially when from the 

 south-west, are accompanied by very much heavier seas than 

 are usual in the North Sea, and the dangers attending the 

 fleeting system would be greater here than they are even in 

 the North Sea. 



The chief danger to be encountered by men fishing on 

 the fleeting system is the exposure in small open boats 

 while carrying the fish from the smacks to the " carrier " 

 which is to take it to market. This work has to be done 

 in all weathers, and is probably the most dangerous work 

 encountered by fishermen. 



Steam Travjlers. — There are no steam trawlers in Ply- 

 mouth, and a recent attempt to introduce two such vessels 

 here has, I am informed, not met with encouragement. 



The fishermen are not favorable to steam trawlers, but 

 do not fear competition from them. 



They are of opinion that the expenses attending steam 

 trawling, both the orginal cost of the vessel and the working 

 expenses, are more, in proportion to the catch of fish, than 

 the expenses of sailing smacks. They are also of opinion 

 that a steam trawler, although able to fish in calm weather 

 when the sailing smacks are becalmed, would be unable to 

 fish in the heavy seas frequently encountered in the Channel 

 by their cutters and yawls, whose sails only keep them 

 sufiiciently steady for trawling purposes.* 



* In Falmouth tliere are six steam vessels, which are used buth as steam 

 trawlers and, when required, as tugs. I have yet to learn the fishing grounds 

 they frequent and the effect of rough weather on their fishing returns. I 



