On the death of Gil Pate, who runs a successful cooperage and fish-curing business, his widow Bethany assumes that she and Gil's son Rory will take over the business. Bethany is furious when she discovers that Gil has left everything, including the care of his wife and family, to his brother and partner, Nathan Pate. As far as Nathan is concerned, Bethany is part of his inheritance. Bethany, a woman driven by amibition and determination, persuades her younger brother Innes to lend her money so that she can buy a local net-making factory and become independent. At the last minute she spends the money on a fishing boat instead, thus going into direct opposition with her other brother, James, who has built up a small fleet of his own. The main bone of contention between Bethany and James is Bethany's son, Adam, a crew member on one of James' herring drifters. Bethany has bought the new boat for Adam, while James, who has no sons, wants to groom the boy to take over his growing business. Neither of them realises that Adam, who has inherited a stubborn streak from his parents, has his own ambitions and his own plans.