of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



223 



There is perhaps no better evidence of the prosperity of the Scottish 

 fisheries than is to be found in the amount of capital invested in boats 

 and fishing gear. Compared with the capital invested in 1896 in sailing 

 boats alone, there is an increase in 1906 of no less than a quarter of a 

 million pounds, although sailing boats have for the last three years been 

 decreasing in number and value annually. 



With regard to steam drifters and liners, the capital invested in them has 

 increased during the same period from .£120,756 to .£704,648. Owing 

 to the rapid increase which is taking place in the number of these 

 vessels there is every likelihood that during the coming season their total 

 value will be at least one million pounds. A very noteworthy feature of 

 these two classes of fishing boats is that they are owned almost entirely by 

 the fishermen themselves — in the case of the sailing boats almost without 

 exception, and in the case of the steam vessels to the extent of about 75 

 per cent., the remaining 25 per cent, belonging to limited companies. In 

 the present prosperous condition of the industry the fishermen are likely 

 to increase their proportion of the ownership of the vessels. Fishermen 

 on the East Coast have always been owners of their own boats. Those 

 of them who have been masters of steam vessels owned by companies have 

 felt themselves rather restricted, and at the first opportunity have resumed 

 their freedom of action by getting a steam vessel for themselves, or by 

 going back to a sailing boat. In addition to this large capital invested in 

 boats and fishing gear, a very large proportion of East Coast fishermen 

 are the owners of their dwelling-houses, which represent a very large 

 capital, all of which has been acquired by their own industry, or, in other 

 words, has been taken out of the sea. The life of a fisherman is, no 

 doubt, a pretty hard one, but the conditions under which his work is 

 carried on now, compared with those obtaining a generation ago, show a 

 vast improvement in the safety and comfort of the men. The boats are 

 all fitted with sleeping berths and modern cooking utensils, whereas in 

 the older days there was nothing but the hard boards to lie on, and the 

 only cooking utensil was a kettle. Many men are still alive who began 

 their fishing life in open boats not half the size of the boats in use 

 to-day. In the winter season they would sometimes spend a week at sea 

 in these boats working long-lines. If there is a great advance in boats, &c, 

 there is no less improvement in the houses of the men. This in a great 

 measure is due to the spirit of emulation existing among fishing com- 

 munities. Each man tries to excel his neighbour to some extent, and 

 none of them likes to be behind his neighbour if he can help it. In 

 short, I think the East Coast fishermen of Scotland will, in material 

 prosperity and comfort, compare very favourably with any class of work- 

 men in the country. 



The methods of fishing pursued and the kinds of fish caught were 

 the same as in former years. The herring fishing continued to be the most 

 important branch of the industry, and the branch from which the large 

 majority of the fishermen derived their prosperity. Many of them have 

 abandoned line fishing altogether, and devote their whole time to the 

 pursuit of the herring fishing, which necessitates their being from home 

 a considerable portion of the year. In the early summer they are found 

 on the West Coast of Ireland or the West Coast of Scotland, all along 

 the Western Islands from Barra Head to the Butt of Lewis, In mid- 

 summer they are found all around the Shetland Isles. In the early 

 autumn they are found all along the East Coast of Scotland, and later 

 in the season they conclude their year's work on the coast of Norfolk. 

 Enterprise in the industry is by no means confined to the fishermen. 

 Fishcurers and workers move along the same routes, thereby making it 

 possible for the fishermen to get a market for what fish they may land. 



