Fishing industry in Scotland shoal of herring with a net and then pulling the ring tight to trap them. Before the 1880s, long-lining was the usual method used to catch white fish such as cod, halibut, saithe, ling and flat fish which live at the bottom of the sea. It was very labour-intensive but resulted in a high quality catch. Small line fishing was a family affair with women and children responsible for preparing the equipment. This was a line, up to a mile in length, to which were attached snoods or shorter pieces of line which were baited with fish or shellfish. Great
Fishing industry in Scotland line fishing was similar to small line fishing but was undertaken in deeper waters, further out to sea. The lines could be up to in length and would be fitted with 5,000 hooks. The fishermen usually baited the lines on the boat. Because of the work involved in preparing and hauling the lines, new methods of catching white fish were sought. Trawling was introduced into Scotland from England in the late 19th Century and, from the 1920s, seine-netting was introduced from Denmark. The First World War interrupted the growth of the industry with many fishermen enlisting the Royal Naval Reserve.