From 1895 the Congested Districts Board began to issue ‘deep sea’ boats to fishermen on the west coast of Ireland. These sailing boats, Nobbies and Zulus, would be a big step up from the traditional yawls of about 26ft in length.  The CDB went on to provide a whole new fleet of sea-going vessels, with Donegal benefiting the most from this massive project.  It was the intention of the CDB to transform the existing part time fishermen-farmers, and especially farmers’ sons, into full time fishermen.   To this end they hired a number of experienced Scottish fishermen and put them on the new Irish boats to instruct the local men in all aspects of gear and fishing.  The CDB also made sure there was a market for all fish caught, without which the whole scheme would have failed.  Finally they brought in foreign curers and coopers to show the locals the best methods.

Below is a list of the CDB boats which were allocated to the Rosses, by year of allocation. A few in the list were bought directly by Rosses men, but most were placed with crews by the CDB.  Those marked * are motor boats (having an engine from new), and + indicates Steam drifters.  The majority are Zulus, with a few Nobbies, and some of these were engined later.

St Bernard 1898

St Michael 1898

Lord Finross 1899

St Connell 1903

St Mark 1903

Errigal 1903

Star of the Sea 1905

Glen Head 1905

St Aiden 1905

St Eunan II 1905

St Ita 1906

Teelin Head 1906

St Colman 1907

St Paul 1908

St Finan II 1908

Fair Head 1908

Countess Grosvenor 1909

St Patrick II 1909

Enterprise 1909

Downings Bay 1909

Aztec 1910*

St Marcellinus 1911

St Gerard Majella 1911

Fishers Friend 1912

Vine 1912*

Foxglove 1912

St Finbar 1913*

Daylight Star 1913*

Summer Star 1913*

Inishirrer 1912-13+

Gweedore 1912-13+

Gola 1914*

Morning Star*

Calistoga 1915+

Emerald 1915

Catch-Me-If-You-Can 1916

Cnoc an Duin

Flora Campbell 1914.

(Source: The Zulu Fishermen by Pat Conaghan, 2003)