I agree that there has been a considerable change since 1946 and that drift net fishing in recent years has been on a smaller scale than it was then. One must remember that in 1946 there was a general shortage of protein foods and consequently a very much greater market for the British herring catch than exists today. The number of drifters at work varies. There are now about 870 Scottish dual-purpose boats capable of fishing for either herring or white fish, as the fishermen choose.