It was possible for these vessels to land two or three times a week.   

The growth of the trawling industry at Granton was rapid. Larger and larger vessels were added to the fleet. These larger vessels had greater coal bunkering and fish room capacity, enabling the vessels to fish more distant fishing grounds. Larger landings of fish demanded new markets to be found and special fish trains would leave Granton daily for Glasgow.

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the newer vessels in the trawling fleet were requisitioned by the Admiralty as was the greater part of the Middle pier and eventually all but one third of the west pier. The trawlers were stripped of their fishing gear and converted to minesweepers and patrol boats. In the course of this war 46 trawlers from Granton were requisitioned and 6 sunk by enemy action. Throughout the war the remaining vessels fished the North Sea grounds and the damage to vessels and casualties were considerable.

Again a considerable amount of the trawling fleet was requisitioned. The North Sea was to be closed to fishing for the duration of the war. The remainder of the Granton fleet were transferred to the West Coast of Scotland. Thirteen trawlers were lost to the war while engaged in fishing.

After the war catches became unusually heavy as the North Sea had been closed for six years.

This regular and plentiful supply of fish, once again became a valuable contribution to the nations larder by supplying good protein food.

In 1950’s approx 17,000 tons of white fish was landed annually at Granton.

In order to maintain the quality and quantity of fish the vessels travelled to even more distant grounds.

The steam ships were replaced with diesel powered motor vessels in the late 1950's and into the 1960's

The first of these was the "Kelso Paton" GW 2 for the Ardrossan Trawling Co Ltd in March 1956.

Two 125ft Stern trawlers were added in 1975 "Arctic Riever"  GN 23 & "Arctic Challenger"  GN 22 for Wm Liston Ltd ( Boyd Line Hull)

The average trip now took 12 to 14 days. The fish was boxed and iced at sea. On arrival at Granton (Landing Day) the boxes were discharged by crane onto the backs of waiting Lorries and refrigerated containers, to be despatched to markets in Hull, Grimsby and Glasgow. The crew would be paid the next day (Settling Day) and depending on the length of the trip had one or two other days (Clear Days) off before Sailing Day arrived again. If a trip was of less than ten days this would be classed as a Half Landing and only one Clear Day would be allowed before Sailing Day, settlement would not take place until after the second trip.

The Granton trawler fleet fished from the Dogger Bank in the North Sea to North of the Shetland Islands, From the Faeroe Islands down to Rockall and the West Coast of Ireland. When fishing the West Coast landings would take place in Oban, Ardrossan and Ayr.