110 FISHERIES OF THE NORTH SEA 



and carries a crew of ten, who generally 

 all share in the profits, The nets of these 

 vessels are far more elaborate than those 

 of the steam trawler, costing often 600 

 to 800 per boat. The nets are hauled 

 up about midnight ; this is a long and 

 often hazardous work, occupying several 

 hours, for they are several miles in length. 

 When the night's catch is all aboard the 

 steamer moves with all haste for the 

 fishing station off which she is working. 

 The herring drifter can brook no delay, for 

 there is no ice used aboard these boats ; and 

 the herring is a fish which gives up life 

 very quickly, and if not salted or landed 

 at once the catch is worthless. As the 

 herrings move in shoals down the coast, 

 different fishing stations come into season 

 in turn, and it is no ' unusual sight to see 

 500 of these little steamers and sailing 

 vessels on the point of landing or leaving 

 a station. All is life and bustle, fisher- 

 men from all parts, but mostly Scots- 

 men and Norfolkmen, intermingling. The 

 inhabitants of the Orkneys and Shetlands 

 live almost wholly by this industry. The 

 landings at Fraserburgh, the chief herring 



