of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xvii 



in the motor boat return, but a crew in the former district hired a 

 motor boat for part of the year, and it may be hoped that this is the 

 prelude to ownership. 



On the East Coast the most noteworthy increases were recorded 

 in Leith, Anstruther, Montrose, Banff, and Wick, the additions being 

 11, 17, 34, 10, and 20 respectively, or collectively 92 out of the total 

 of 120. 



Orkney shows an increase of 8, but Shetland has remained 

 stationary, while Stornoway, Loch Carron and Skye and Fort William 

 show increases which, though small in themselves, are promising. 



Of the 167 boats in which motor engines were installed only about 

 32 were new boats built specially for the purpose ; the remainder 

 were sailing boats already on the register. 



It has been remarked on previous occasions that the motor has not 

 found much favour with Scottish fishermen for the large herring boats, 

 and this continued to be the case during 1913. The fleet of motor 

 boats over 45 feet in keel shows an increase of only 21, and this may 

 be compared with the increase of 60 in steam drifters. Taking into 

 consideration the difference in cost, those figures are significant, and 

 their significance is increased by the fact that a number of Eyemouth 

 fishermen, owners of motor drifters, were at the close of the year con- 

 templating the purchase of steamers to take the place of their motor 

 boats. Eyemouth has hitherto been the principal centre of the motor 

 drifter, and the movement there towards steamers shows that for deep 

 sea fishing motor power is regarded by fishermen as inferior to 

 steam. 



In the case of the smaller boats, however, steam is not a competitor, 

 and fishermen all over the country are alive to the desirability of having 

 motors installed in such boats. 



Leith district has been slow in adopting modern methods, and it is 

 therefore pleasant to note that motors were installed in 13 line yawls 

 during the year, with encouraging results. In Anstruther district the 

 small-line motor fleet has been trebled, and at St. Monans and Pitten- 

 weem motors were installed in several boats of from 30 to 45 feet keel, 

 intended for the winter herring fishing and great line fishing — an 

 experiment which will be watched with interest. It may also be 

 mentioned that the motor has been the means of developing the small- 

 line fishing at Pittenweem ; it is now a regular industry giving con- 

 tinuous employment to several crews, in place of a seasonal occupation 

 only. 



As indicated above, Montrose district has taken a prominent place 

 in the installation of motors in line boats, and from the success which 

 has been attained by boats so fitted it is probable that further develop- 

 ment will take place. Gourdon has taken the first place in the extension, 

 and now possesses 21 motor skiffs, while the Johnshaven Company, 

 mentioned in the Report for 1912, owns 4 motor skiffs. 



In Banff district, the village of Whitehills trebled its fleet of motor 

 boats with successful results, while in Wick district, 14 small motor 

 craft were added, but the remaining Moray Firth districts show little 

 activity in the extension of motor power for inshore fishing. The 

 herring fishing commands their attention, and some medium-sized 

 motor boats added in Findhorn district were intended for that fishing. 



As the Appendices do not show the numbers of the different classes 



