THE BRITISH FISH TRADE. 45 



system has of late years sprung up in the fishing fleet. 

 When men are absent from home for long periods, they 

 require to be supplied with various articles ; and, in conse- 

 quence of the demand which has thus sprung up, smacks 

 have been fitted out for the sale to the fishing fleet of 

 spirits, tobacco, and other things. As these smacks buy 

 their goods abroad, and do not return to a British port 

 before they are sold, they naturally escape the customs 

 duties, and are consequently able to sell spirits and tobacco 

 at the lowest possible rate. Cheap drink is perhaps always 

 objectionable, and an unregulated liquor traffic is usually 

 liable to abuse. The boat-owners complain that the 

 coopers, as these smacks are called, are floating grog-shops 

 of the worst description, and that they are under no control 

 whatever. They demoralise the fishermen and tempt them 

 to part with fish and gear for spirits and tobacco. It is 

 not, however, easy to see how these evils, great as they are, 

 can effectually be terminated. If coopering were forbidden 

 in English vessels, the only result would be to drive the 

 trade under a foreign flag. The true method of terminating 

 abuse probably consists in endeavouring to make the trade 

 itself more respectable. If the boat-owners would encourage 

 smacks sailing under proper control, and dealing not merely 

 in spirits but in coffee and other necessaries, to attend the 

 fleet, the respectable trade might perhaps in the long run 

 destroy the disreputable one. If people will not condescend 

 to supply a well-ascertained demand in a regular way, 

 irregular means of meeting it are certain to arise. 



It is not very easy to obtain any reliable statistics of the 

 value of the trawling trade. The same ports which own 

 the chief trawlers own the chief smacks engaged in the line 

 trade ; and the fish which "both classes of vessels produce 

 are consequently sold through the same markets. Nearly 



