In 1946 there were approximately 444 steam and motor vessels registered in Scotland mainly engaged in drift net fishing for herring. The latest comparable figure is for 1963 when 104 motor vessels were so engaged. However, the number of drifters varies seasonally, and in both years the maximum number of boats engaged in drift net fishing at any one time, and also the number of boats engaged in drift net fishing at some time of the year, would have been greater than the figures I have given.