of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



xv 



mostly of the Loch Fyne skiff type, which operate almost entirely 

 in inshore waters. Similarly, in Orkney and Shetland the boats in 

 which the oil engine has been installed are of small tonnage and are 

 chiefly engaged in inshore haddock fishing, with, it may incidentally 

 be stated, remarkable success. So great, indeed, was the success of 

 the Shetland motor-boats in 1910 that by the end of 1911 the local 

 fleet had been doubled (6 to 12). 



At this point it may be desirable to focus these general remarks on 

 the distribution of the fleet in a brief table : — 



No. of Value of Boats 



Boats. Tonnage. and Gear. 



East Coast, 81 2,947 £98,716 



West Coast, ... 127 1,120 24,956 



Orkney and Shetland, 25 140 5,455 



It will thus be seen that the average value of the boats and gear 

 on the East Coast is £1219, on the West Coast £197, and in Orkney 

 and Shetland £218. 



Types of Motor Engines installed in 1911. 



On the East Coast, the favourite engine continued to be the 

 " Gardner," although other makes, such as the " Parsons," " Thorney- 

 croft," "Alpha," " Kelvin," and " Fairbanks," found adherents. For 

 the smaller West Coast boats, the " Kelvin " occupied first place in the 

 favour of fishermen, but in a few instances other engines, such as the 

 " Ferro," " Barcar," and " Gleniffer," were adopted. 



The cost of the engines and running expenses show little change 

 from the figures given in the Report for 1909. As regards running 

 expenses, however, there appears to be some hope that in the near future 

 engines may be constructed which will be adapted to the consumption of 

 crude oil, and if this could be attained a welcome addition to the net 

 profits would ensue. But, as was pointed out in last year's Report, it 

 would probably be necessary that crude oil should be standardised, as 

 the quality of different kinds varies considerably. 



Earnings of Motor Boats. 



As has been stated in preceding years, it is difficult to obtain 

 reliable estimates as to the earnings of fishermen generally, partly 

 because many are unwilling to divulge particulars, while others do 

 not keep proper accounts and are thus unable to give the figures 

 desired. Generally, however, it may be stated that careful enquiry 

 and a comparison of reliable estimates for certain districts have con- 

 firmed the views expressed in preceding Reports, that the earnings of 

 motor fishing boats are intermediate between those of steam-drifters 

 and sail-drifters. 



As illustrative of this statement, the earnings at the Scottish great 

 summer and the English fishings of the different classes of boats in four 

 districts in which reliable estimates were obtainable have been 

 summarised, with the following results : — 



