The crew of a drifter usually number from about 8 or 9 men. Drifters go to sea in fleets, the captain of each vessel using his experience and judgement to guide him to the grounds where he thinks the herring are likely to be most plentiful. The ships are manned by men whose fathers and grandfathers have fished for herring and who are, consequently efficient, even if somewhat tradition bound. The fishing grounds, according to the time of season, are anything between 20 - 60 miles from port. Drifters often report back at the quay 12 hours after each other.