of the FUherij Board Jor Scotland. 



XI 



occasioned by the stormy weather during the earlier months of the 

 year. Still another section of the fleet (fishing chiefly from Aberdeen) 

 pursued great-lining throughout the whole season, and in the year 1910 

 tliese vessels were remarkably successful — much more so, indeed, than 

 tliose which devoted their time partly to Hne fishing and partly to 

 herrint^ fishin<i, or to the latter alone. The success to which reference 

 has been made may be gauged from the fact that one of the boats 

 earned fully £4200, while the general average (for about 17 vessels) 

 was £3800. It may here be added that the success which attended 

 these boats induced the owners of about 21 trawlers to fit them out 

 for the line-fishing during the summer months, and these, too, were 

 rewarded with good results. 



III. Beam and Otter Trawl Vessels. 



The fleet of Scottish steam trawlers was increased by four in 1910, 

 but allowances for depreciation reduced the value of the fleet by nearly 

 £9000, Otherwise there is little change to record. 



IV. Motor Fishing Boats. 



Progress of Fleet. 



In last year's Report a full account was given of the rise of the 

 motor fishing fleet. It was shown that, despite a good deal of pre- 

 judice and suspicion on the part of the fishermen, considerable progress 

 had been made, and it was suggested that the marine oil engine 

 seemed to be about to take the position in the fishing fleet which it 

 really deserved. A study of the relative statistics under Appendix A, 

 No. I., shows that the suggestion has been justified. The auxiliary 

 motor engine has now been adopted in 17 of the Scottish fishery 

 districts, and the fleet has now reached a total of 156 vessels, as com- 

 pared with 75 in 1909. The increase of 81 is distributed as follows : — 

 East Coast, 23; Orkney and Shetland, 10; and the West Coast, 48 — 

 the large increase under the West Coast being referable mainly to 

 Campbeltovvn and Ballantrae districts in the ratio of 2:1. The value 

 of boats and gear has increased correspondingly, and the following 

 brief Table shows the present distribution of the motor fishing fleet 

 among the three main sections of the coast : — 



No, of Value of Boats 



Boats. Tonnage. and Gear. 



East Coast, 58 2,263 £76,408 



West Coast, ... 81 715 15,201 



Orkney and Shetland, 17 73 3,144 



The disparity between the number of boats and the tonnage and 

 value on the East Coast as compared with the corresponding figures 

 in the other two sections is due to the fact that the East Coast boats 

 fitted with motors are of the large sail drifter type, while the Orkney 

 and Shetland and West Coast boats are of the small type intended for 

 fishing inshore waters. 



