4 THE SEA FISHERIES 



tonnage and upwards, and all boats (other than steamers) of 15 tons 

 register tonnage and upwards. Second-class boats include all 

 steamers of less than 15 tons gross tonnage, and all boats (other 

 than steamers) of less than 15 tons register tonnage, or of 18 ft. 

 keel and upwards. Third-class boats include vessels under 18 ft. 

 keel other than those navigated by oars only. This system of 

 classification was no doubt an excellent one fifty years ago, but the 

 enormous growth in recent years in size, variety and number of 

 vessels in the first class renders some subdivision imperative before 

 any proper classification of sea fishing boats can be made. Classes 

 two and three are now negligible if one considers merely the gross 

 value and weight of fish landed in these islands, as their contribu- 

 tion to the total must be an extremely modest one, but if one 

 considers that these boats furnish either a temporary (seasonal) or 

 permanent livelihood to a large number of men, then they cannot 

 be left out of consideration. 



In 1883 the fishing fleet of the British Isles ^ was constituted as 

 follows : — 



First class. Second class. 



Steam. Sail. Sail. 



England and Wales . . 181 , . 3,562 . . 4.881 

 Scotland^ . . . 40 . . 3.984 ■• 8,808 



Ireland . . . • 4 •• 512 . . 3.075 



Total . . . 225 .. 8,058 .. 17.364 



8,283 



The tonnage of the 225 steamers aggregated 6654 tons, giving an 

 average of about 29-5 tons per steamer. The first-class sailing boats 

 8058 in number, represented a tonnage of 224,097 tons, an average 

 of 27-8 tons per smack. The second-class boats, 17,364 in number, 

 aggregated 83,464 tons, an average of 4-8 tons per boat. 



The latest pre-war returns of the fishing fleet show, as might be 

 expected, a remarkable increase. 



Summary of First-Class Fishing Vessels (1913) 



Sailing Vessels. 



Trawlers. Liners. Drifters. 



817 38 192 



Steam Vessels. 

 Trawlers. Liners. Drifters. 



England and Wales . 1,363 66 671 



(including Isle of Man) " -- 



Scotland . . .298 884 



1,692 



391 



Ireland (1912) . ■ I4 



1 Registered under the Sea Fisheries Act, 1868, on 31st December, 1883. 

 « But see 3n^«/ Report Fishery Board for Scotland for 1883. 



