xviii 



Thirtieth Annual Report 



Steam Drifters. 



The earnings of drifters are usually allocated as follows at the close 

 of each of the three seasons commonly reckoned as occurring in the 

 year :— 



From gross earnings is deducted salesman's commission, dues of 

 every description, cost of coal, oil, engine stores, and engineer's and 

 stoker's wages. The balance is divided into three shares — ship's 

 share, nets' share, and crew's share — the latter subject to deduction of 

 engineer's and stoker's board. 



Usually owners and crew find nets in equal proportion, a full fleet 

 of nets, including spare gear for all the fishings, costing from £500 to 

 £700. 



The system of dividing the net earnings into three shares, although 

 the general rule, is not always followed. Thus, in the case of most of 

 the Anstruther boats the proportions are : — Boat, four-tenths ; nets, 

 three- tenths ; crew, three- tenths, and this method of division is 

 spreading amongst other ports. 



Steam Liners. 



The steam line fleet is largely concentrated at Aberdeen, and the 

 system in vogue there of allocating the earnings is as follows : — All 

 working expenses — cost of coal, bait, wages of engineer, etc. — are 

 deducted from the gross earnings, and the balance halved, one share 

 going to the boat, and the other being divided amongst the crew. 

 Fishermen who do not contribute a share of the lines, i.e., hired hands, 

 are paid at the rate of from 25s. to 30s. per week, with food. In 

 other districts, where steam drifters are occasionally employed in line- 

 fishing, the system of division is usually the same, i.e., half of the net 

 earnings go to the boat, and half to the crew, who each provide an 

 equal share of lines. In Eyemouth district, the system is slightly more 

 complicated. A fleet of nets is usually carried for the purpose of 

 obtaining bait, and each time the lines are shot a sum of 12s. is 

 allowed for the upkeep of nets and a similar sum for the crew, and the 

 net earnings are divided thus : — Boat, three-sevenths ; crew, three- 

 sevenths ; lines, one-seventh. 



Steam trawlers are sometimes temporarily fitted out as liners, the 

 owner furnishing the equipment, and in such cases the net proceeds 

 are divided into 14 shares, of which the skipper receives If shares 

 and the mate li The other members of the crew are paid at fixed 

 rates, but the deck hands receive in addition a bonus of 3d. per £1 on 

 the net, and the firemen 6d. per £1 on the gross earnings over £40 

 per week. All are paid at the end of each voyage. 



Motor Boats. 



In the case of the large motor drifters on the East Coast, the 

 system of division is not uniform, although the differences are slight. 

 The modus operandi is the same as in the case of steam drifters, the 

 net earnings being allocated in varying proportions to the boat, nets, 

 and crew. The following are the proportions at Eyemouth, Fraser- 

 burgh, and Buckie, which together account for 63 per cent, of the 

 entire East Coast Fleet : — 



