XX 



Thirty-second Annual Report 



boats again demonstrated their great superiority over sail -boats, but 

 it may be mentioned that one large motor boat in Wick district grossed 

 about £2,500 for the year. 



In addition to the general advantages to which reference has been 

 made, motor boats engaged in line fishing possess the additional ad- 

 vantages over sailing boats similarly engaged, that they can haul their 

 lines with little trouble owing to their ability to proceed under power 

 direct from one end to the other, whereas the sail boat frequently has 

 to adopt the laborious and tedious process of beating up against the 

 wind or rowing, and that they can return to a known prolific ground 

 against adverse winds and tides which preclude the sailing boat from 

 doing so — circumstances to which their uniformly greater success is 

 largely due. 



In dealing with the earnings of the class of boats in which most 

 interest is being manifested at present the diflS.culty of obtaining 

 accurate information presents itself. Fishermen engaged in small line 

 fishing do not as a rule keep a record of their earnings, and where ac- 

 counts are kept reticence is displayed. The following statements, ex- 

 tracted from reports by the local officers after careful inquiry, may, 

 however, be taken as substantially correct : — 



Leith District. — In general the motor yawls obtained from 1 to 2 

 boxes of fish per shot more than the sail boats, representing 

 an addition of 10s. to £1 per day. 



Anstruther District. — The average value of the line catches of 

 motor boats, per trip, was £2 17s., as compared with £1 3s. 5d. 

 for sail boats, in addition to which the motor boats were able 

 to make a greater number of trips. 



Montrose District. — As a rule the catches of the motor skifis at line 

 fishing were double those of similar sail boats, while several 

 motor skiffs, carrying crews of four men each, which took 

 part in the North of England autumn herring fishing, grossed 

 on an average about £126 in a period of five weeks. 



Banfj District. — Earnings of boats of 26 to 29 feet keel ranged 

 from £6 to £8 per week for line fishing, and £8 to £12 for cod 

 net and flounder net fishing, about double the earnings of the 

 sail boats. 



Wide District. — Owing to very unfavourable weather and scarcity 

 of fish, the results were not very remunerative, but the boats 

 had many advantages over sailing boats. 



OrJcney District. — The earnings were from 25 to 30 per cent, better 

 than those of similar sail boats. 



Shetland District— One motor skiff of 31 feet keel, carrying a crew 

 of four men, which worked during the whole year at various 

 fishings, grossed over £1,000, the cost of oil being about £6 

 per month. 



In some of the West Coast districts no definite information as to 

 earnings is available, or no proper comparison can be made with the 

 results obtained by sailing boats. Three East Coast districts report 

 unsatisfactory results, but only 7 boats were involved, and 5 of 

 those were engaged in the speculative West Coast herring fishery. 



Along with the earnings of the motor boats, the working expenses 



