14 THE SEA FISHERIES 



merely obey his commands. But there are still 6000 small fishing 

 boats in England and 8000 in Scotland, and about one-seventh or 

 one-eighth of the 35,000 fishermen in Scotland, and a somewhat 

 larger proportion of those in England stiU live on the produce of 

 the inshore fisheries. " They are the fishers of crab, and shrimp 

 and lobster, the hand-line fishers of plaice and haddock and codling, 

 the men who take, now and then, a day at the lines, a night at the 

 herring, the dwellers in the antiquated harbours and in the tiny 

 creeks of outlying coast and distant island. The kindliest of Scotch 

 proverbs tells us that ' it takes all sorts to mak' a world,' and these 

 men have their claim on us and their right to live."^ 



As a result of the passing of the fisheries into the grip of the 

 capitalist there is a gradual disappearance of the coastal fisherman. 

 In order to understand the present position it is necessary briefly 

 to consider the different classes of fishermen and the way they have 

 been affected by modern developments. 



Broadly speaking, the fisheries and fishermen of the British Isles 

 can be divided into three main groups. In the first place there are 

 the great steam fisheries. Trawling, lining and drifting are carried 

 on by means of large and powerful vessels owned for the most part 

 by limited liability companies with ample capital. This method of 

 fishing involves the use of large quantities of consumable stores, 

 such as coal, oil and ice. Further, good harbours accessible at all 

 states of the tide, and provided with ample quay space, railway 

 sidings, dry docks or patent slips for repairs are indispensable. In 

 many cases the development of these steam fisheries is fostered by 

 the railway companies, whose harbours they use. 



Secondly there are the deep-sea sailing fisheries. These comprise 

 both trawlers and drifters, and both classes have been much affected 

 by the steamers. In England there are very few ports remaining 

 where sailing vessels of this class predominate ; but the deep-sea 

 sailing trawler still holds its own at Brixham and Ramsgate. Prac- 

 tically the only advantage which the sailing vessel possesses is the 

 small working expense involved, more particularly when the skipper 

 has a direct pecuniary interest in the profits. Some vessels of this 

 class, especially the drifters, may benefit by the adoption of some 

 type of marine motor. Motors would prove to be time savers in 

 going to and returning from the fishing grounds, as they could be 

 used in calm weather and would frequently save a tide, often a 

 vital consideration in reaching the market in the case of a perishable 

 commodity like fish. Although most sailing trawlers now carry ice 

 for the preservation of their catch, the time saving element is still 

 of importance. The importance of seamen of this type to the 



* Thompson, op. cit. 



