time, it does not seem to have had a specific name, and the term ferilla referred to a type of small passenger boat which operated between Birgu and Senglea. By the 19th century, the fishing boat became known as the ferilla.

The ferilla tended to remain relatively close to land, initially due to fear of Barbary pirates. It was the most popular type of boat used by Maltese fishermen until around 1900. A few examples still survive in