174 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



The herring-fishings did not absorb the whole energy 

 of fishermen who owned steam-vessels. Some of them 

 went great-line fishing during the early months of the 

 year, while others followed the early herring-fishings. 

 These fishings are not generally popular amongst the 

 fishermen, for unless the catches are very good the 

 earnings do not compensate for the labour involved and 

 the wear and tear of gear owing to stormy weather. 

 Another section of the fleet, which fished mostly from 

 Aberdeen, were great-lining during the whole season. 

 In 1910 these vessels were remarkably successful, one 

 earning ^4200, and the average for about seventeen 

 being ^"3800. These agreeable results induced the 

 owners of more than a score of trawlers to fit them out 

 for the line-fishing during the summer months, and these 

 craft also secured good profits. 



A small motor-skiff in Shetland earned ^607 gross 

 for the year, seven-eighths of that amount being prob- 

 ably net earnings. In another case two crews working 

 haddock lines for about ten weeks made a gross total of 

 2 20. Generally speaking, fishermen were pleased with 

 the results of motor-fishing and their ability to make 

 two trips a day instead of one, and to work their boats 

 with four men, compared with five for the sailers, largely 

 discounted the extra running expenses. 



The replacement of sail by mechanically propelled 

 vessels (says the last Report of the Scottish Fishery 

 Board), which is now such a notable feature of the herring- 

 fishing industry, was still further exemplified during 1910, 

 when 706 steamers, 51 motor-boats, and 500 sailing 

 vessels took part in the English herring-fishing, as 

 against 645 steam- and 614 sail- and motor-vessels in 



