Modern British steam trawlers travel as far afield as Iceland, Newfoundland and Morocco. Steam trawling developed rapidly, and resulted in a correspondingly rapid decrease in the number of sailing trawlers. Between 1893 and 1903, the number of first class smacks in Great Britain decreased from over 2,000 with an average tonnage (net) of 57·4 to less than 900 with an average tonnage (net) of 40. From 1903 until the present day, the number had remained between 900 and 800; it would seem, therefore, that the relative numbers and importance of smacks and steam trawlers gradually attained to a condition of equilibrium. Between 1900 and 1906 the increasing importance of steam trawling received a temporary check. A steam trawler in those days would cost about £10,000 to construct and about £5,000 a year to operate; their commercial success, therefore, depended upon correspondingly large and valuable catches of fish being obtained. When first introduced on the fishing grounds round the coast their superior efficiency and speed amply compensated for their high cost. About 1900, however, the catch obtained by these vessels on the home fishing grounds began to diminish, and the fishermen became alarmed lest the greatly increased efficiency of steam trawling should prove to be its own undoing, and result in the depopulation of the fishing grounds by over-fishing. Between 1900 and 1906, the number of steam trawlers fishing from British ports only increased by 200, whereas, during the preceding 10 years, the numbers had increased from a few hundred to over 2,000.