OF THE GRIMSBY TRAWL FISHERY, 355 
is only from about 45 to 50 tons. Yarmouth and Ramsgate smacks 
are, I believe, essentially similar to those of Lowestoft. 
It is hard to see why Grimsby men should consider that the large 
smacks are the best, while Lowestoft men prefer the small ones, 
since I know of no difference in the conditions under which the 
fishing operations are carried on from the two ports to account for 
this. The Grimsby smack has been evolved, chiefly by gradual 
increase of size, from the much smaller South coast boats, which 
first opened up the North Sea trawling; and every step in their 
enlargement seems to have been viewed with apprehensions, which 
were never justified by the results. The largest I know of exceed 
90 tons register, and it is impossible to say that the size would not 
have been further increased had not the immensely superior catching 
powers of the steamers practically diverted all piscatorial ingenuity 
into a new channel. 
One branch of trawling remained exclusively in the possession of 
smacks until quite recently. This was fleeting,* the function of 
steam being confined to the carriage of fish, caught by fleeting smacks, 
to market ; but within the last two years there have been launched 
several steamers designed especially for fleeting purposes, and no 
doubt, if there remain anything to trawl for, the sailing smack will 
be gradually driven from this, her last vantage-ground. 
Cuap. LI.—A “ Vovace” on A SreamM-TRAWLER. 
It may be of interest to give a brief account of a trip on board a 
trawling vessel, as giving some little insight ito the life led by our 
deep-sea fishermen when engaged in their calling.+ For this purpose 
a voyage in July, 1893, as having covered more grounds in one trip 
than is usually the case, will best serve. The ship, a steam-trawler, 
was due to sail with the morning tide, and I found my way on 
board, at the hospital dock, in good time. ‘The engineers were 
already on board, and one by one the rest of the crew dropped in, 
the skipper arriving just as it was time to make for the dock gates. 
Subject to occasional exceptions, the skipper has absolute discretion 
* In “fleeting” the trawlers remain on the ground, and transfer their catches to carriers 
instead of returning to port themselves with the catch. 
+ I gladly take this opportunity of saying that I have always found both owners and 
skippers most willing to give me a berth on board their boats, and have received the 
greatest possible kindness and assistance at sea. 
