78 TRAWLING VESSELS IN SCOTTISH WATERS. 



The crews of the average steam -trawler are not less daring 

 than their comrades of the line-boats, but they lead a much 

 more active life, and have little or no time, except perhaps in 

 great storms or on Saturday and early on Sunday, for shore- 

 life. Their constant services by night and by day throughout 

 the week must frequently test even the hardiest constitution, 

 which can only be kept in condition by a faculty of snatching 

 a little repose when off duty during the time the trawl is 

 down. Their average earnings are probably greater than those 

 of the liner, but as a rule, they work much harder, and permit 

 themselves little leisure. As their remuneration depends in 

 most cases on the success of their fishing, it is no wonder that 

 they select the richest grounds within a reasonable distance, 

 and leave the less lucrative areas to others. It would be a 

 great boon to these men if their Sunday on shore were un- 

 broken. 



Since 1884 the trawling vessels in Scotland have steadily 

 increased in number, so that within ten years they have 

 been considerably more than doubled: the returns for 1893 

 showing that there are no less than 142 vessels and 720 men 

 thus employed, — the total value of vessels, exclusive of gear, 

 being about £240,737. Or, to go more minutely into details, of 

 this number 72 are steam -trawlers, having a tonnage of 2625 

 tons, and valued at £237,004, to which has to be added the 

 fishing gear, £10,746,— making a total of £247,750. These 

 vessels are manned by 544 men. The rest (70) are sailing- 

 trawlers, having a tonnage of 423, and valued at £3733, while 

 their gear is estimated at £1332 — making a total of £5065, 

 with 176 men on board. 



In addition to the foregoing there were 39 steam-trawlers 

 belonging to English owners, fishing regularly from Scottish 

 ports, and the tonnage of which was 959 tons, value £92,100, 

 and value of gear £3850, — making a total of £95,950. These 

 had 296 men on board. The disproportion between the number 

 of men employed and the cost of the material is chiefly brought 

 out when it is mentioned that for 1892 the liners and net- 

 fishermen were 45,629, while they had 13,865 boats, valued at 

 £680,000. It will thus be seen that, while the average is 



