Matthew Tanner introduces the history of the Scottish fishing vessel and chronicles the developments that have created fishing machines that are not only highly effective tools, but a delight to the eyes as well. Fishing has an unglamorous reputation, yet the story of the fishing boat is one of continual innovation and experiment in design and technology. A number of vernacular boat types have appeared, each one admirably adapted to its peculiar environment and its particular tasks. By 1900 the fishing boat had been developed into the famous, very large and very fast luggers, known as fifies and zulus, but at the time steam power and then motor power were swiftly being taken on board. The variations in fishing fortune since the Second World War have seen the advent of the multi-purpose all-weather fishing vessel, fully equipped with the latest in electronic safety, navigation and fish-finding gear.