324 REMARKS ON TRAWLING. 
ships in both Scotland and England, and sent them into Scottish 
waters, so that the liners met with most formidable rivals. The 
complaints of the line-fishermen at this period (1883) and subse- 
quently necessarily attracted much attention, and great sympathy 
has always been expressed in regard to their condition, for un- 
doubtedly the larger and more regular supply of fishes had a 
tendency to diminish prices, and this caused a reduction of income 
to the liner, and the fishes on certain of the nearer grounds were 
thinned, and perhaps rendered more wary. In the Report of 1884 
it was said that “two competitors are in the field instead of one, 
and for the liner it may take closer work, even with all the help 
improved modern appliances in boats and material can give, to keep 
pace with his rival;” and, further, that it would be a great 
calamity if any mishap should befall such a fine race of men— 
hardy, willing, and adventurous. Complete destruction, or, at any 
rate, most serious interference with the fishing-grounds, and the 
destitution of the fishing population, was then predicted, and many 
anxious eyes watched the development of events, since about 45,000 
men at least were dependent on the net-and-line-boats of the 
country, whereas only a few hundred—perhaps between 200 and 
300—were at that time engaged in the trawling industry. 
Since 1884 the trawling vessels have steadily increased in number, 
so that within the ten years they have been considerably more than 
doubled, the returns for 1893 showing that there are no less than 
142 vessels and 720 men thus employed,—the total value of vessels, 
exclusive of gear, being about £240,737. Or, to go more minutely 
into details, of this number 72 are steam-trawlers, having a tonnage 
of 2,625 tons, and valued at £237,004, to which has to be added 
the fishing gear, £10,746—making a total of £247,750. These 
vessels are manned by 544 men. ‘The rest (70) are sailing trawlers, 
having a tonnage of 423, and valued at £3,733, while their gear is 
estimated at £1,832—making a total of £5,065, with 176 men on board. 
In addition to the foregoing there were 39 steam-trawlers belonging 
to English owners, fishing regularly from Scottish ports, and the 
tonnage of which was 959 tons, valued £92,100, and value of gear 
£3,850—making a total of £95,950. These had 296 men on board. 
The disproportion between the number of men employed and the 
cost of the material is chiefly brought out when it is mentioned that for 
1892 the lmers and net-fishermen were 45,629, while they had 
13,865 boats, valued at £680,000. It will thus be seen that, while 
the average is about £1,695 for each trawling ship, for the liner it is 
about £49, ‘The disproportion, again, in the trawling vessels, 
between the first-class and the small sailing-boat, e.g. of the Clyde, 
is very great, the former being about £5,000, the latter under £40, 
