168 BRITISH INDUSTRIES. 



In the Moray Firth, among several stations of more 

 or less importance, Buckie deserves notice, no less for 

 the industry and enterprise of its fishermen than for 

 the peculiarity of the boats used by them. The 

 general character of the Scotch fishing boats, espe- 

 cially those on the east coast, is to have both ends 

 sharp, a good deal of beam, and a moderate rise of 

 floor. They used to be entirely open, and were rigged 

 with a jib, and fore and main lugs. The change, now 

 very general, from undecked to decked boats has 

 necessitated an alteration in this rig, the mainmast 

 being done away with, and a mizen carried instead, 

 the fore-lug being made with a large foot as in the 

 luggers belonging to Yarmouth and most other Eng- 

 lish fishing ports. The Buckie boats, known as 

 " Scaffs " or " Scaffy boats," are of an entirely different 

 build from the other Scotch craft; they have a flat 

 floor, a long hollow bow, with the greatest breadth at 

 the water-line very far aft; the stem and sternpost 

 rake a good deal, and they have plenty of beam and 

 room on board. In addition to these peculiarities, they 

 carried a mizen as well as fore and main lugs, but I 

 have never observed them with a jib. They are con- 

 sidered fine sea-boats, and the Buckie men are ac- 

 customed to go away long distances in them for the 

 purpose of line fishing, which is their favourite occupa- 

 tion, and takes them sometimes to the Orkneys and 

 other places far from their homes. The advantages of 

 a decked boat are now thoroughly understood by these 

 men ; and in the last few years they have built all 



