shriLiiip entcrpi^LSOs are affected by the unaaployrnent provinions of the 

 Social Security Act tiince only shrimp flshenncn on veGsuls of 10 net tons 

 and over are covei'cd by the Federal leciGlation. 'fhe imyroll ta>:, 

 viilcli is levied for the unemploywent compenGatlon fund, is 3 percent, 

 and is levied from the employer. FiGhciiiien vho are covered by unoraploy- 

 ment compensation may receive benefits varying from .')20 to rh'^ for 26 

 weeks depending; upon the i^rovisions of tiie individual state laws. 



The absence of contractual agreements between tlie hiring 

 party and the fisheraien is evidence of the looseness of working 

 arrangements. The labor force is almost completely mobile and free 

 to move wherever opportunity beckons. Tliis circmistance creates a 

 problem for the non-operating boat ovmer. For him the need for finding 

 and retaining skilled labor in his business becomes paramount. Boat 

 owners, therefore, try to make it economically possible for fishermen, 

 especially skilled captains, to stay in one area throughout the year. 

 Some canneries in the northern Gulf area, as has already been pointed 

 out, for this reason employ a few selected crews on a year-round basis 

 on fixed annual salaries. In other areas, where receipts are divided 

 on a share basis, some operating boat ovmers prefer to operate their 

 boats at a loss during the off-season rather than to tie them to the 

 dock and free the crews to go elsewhere. In oi^der to do tliis the 

 ovmers suspend the normal share agreem.ent during the off-season and 

 offer the fisherman a flat salary or the total receipts of the catch 

 (which are nominal) for this period. 



In the days when haul seine operations vjre predominant in 

 the industry, vessel crews vrere made up of as ma)iy as 8 members, ''.'lie 

 introduction of the shrimp trawl greatly reduced the need for the num- 

 ber of men required per craft. On the smaller vessel the captain and 

 a single crew member, knoim as the striker, constitute the entire com- 

 plement. The larger vessels are usually manned by a captain and 2 

 crew members . 



A custom which is comparatively new, and encountered chiefly 

 in Texas, is that of talcing on a header for the trip. Tliis man's sole 

 fiUiCtion is to head the shrimp as they are hauled aboai'd. He is X''3'i<i 

 on the basis of the number of shrimp headed and does not participate 

 in the share arrangeiucnt. Texas dealers, in general, do not approve 

 of this practice. They b;lieve that the header is replacing a reg\ilar 

 crew member and that he is not capable of pci'fon.iin,'--; all of the duties 

 required of a ci-ew member. Tlie fisiiemier ciaiiu thrU: he i.s an extra man 

 and tliat his presence can in no way impair the efficiency ol tne vessel. 



The captain ordinarily has full dJ.scretion in t?ie hiring und 

 firing of crew. At sea he is in complete command of vessel operat-i'jns 

 and crew and is free to fish when and as he likes, 'ilie responGibi li-cy 

 for 1 hs success of the trip is entirely his. 



JTjcause vessel pi'oductivity lias been tied so closely to 

 fisherman' .'J ;:l:ill, and in many instances the competence of the cre\rs 

 leaves much to be desired, suggestions have been inudc i'o^ the insti- 

 tution of a compreh.Misive training prograjti in I.I. industry. On the 



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