basis or its sui-vey of the industry. First Research Corporation has 

 outlined an educational and service program established on a closely- 

 knit ori-^anization ropresentinj^ the o\mers and operators, insurance 

 uiidoruritcrs, f ishormen's cooperatives, f ishermc-n's iinions, processing 

 and marketing organizations, and the United States Government. This 

 organization, it is reconmended, should adopt and finance a prof^rarti 

 including: (a) dissemination of educational information for o/mers 

 and operators to acquaint them with efficient and safo operation and 

 maintenance of vessels as practiced v/ithin the shi'ijiip industiy, as 

 well as in other fisheries tlirough the worldj (b) establishment of 

 a training program for present or prospective captains of shrimping 

 vessels comprising instruction in piloting and navigation, communica- 

 tions, rudiraentaiy engineering, seai.ianship, and the latest developments 

 in gear and fishing methods uitliin the fishery; (c) establishment of 

 one or ti;o training schools for crevmion, with instruction being pro- 

 vided in seamanship, ship handling, maintenance and operation of deck 

 machinery, rudimentary engineering, elementary piloting, and general 

 fishing methods; (d) development of a system of finmcing the constru- 

 tion of new vessels with the captain, and perhaps the crew, participating 

 in the oimershipj (e) the establishjncnt of a regular vessel safety in- 

 spection system requiring inspection of all vessels before leaving port. 

 The inspection vjould include carolul analysis of the readiness of'^tho 

 vessel for sea with regai-d to se.:!'rorthine5:s, condition of navigational 

 and mechanical equipment, presence of needed devices and infoi'iaation, 

 and a general appraisal of the personnel. The autliority entrusted lath 

 the responsibility of pei-forming the inspection should have sufficient 

 pouer to deny the vessel the right to depart from port unless properly 

 outfitted, maintained and m:ained. Despite the expense and tajne involved, 

 it is believed that such an agency would be of ^:reat economic value in 

 helping to prevent accidents caused by defective equipment and poor 

 poi'somiel. 



Compensation of Crews 



Throughout the industry the majority of fishermen are paid on 

 the lay system under which they receive a share of the receipts from 

 the catch rather than a specific wage payiiient. The actual shiire agree- 

 ment may vary between areas. Along the Atlantic coast, the receipts 

 from the catch are generally divided haU* and half botvreen boat omer 

 and crew. The crow's share is cormnonly divided in the proportion of 

 60 percent to the captain and IjO percent to the rest of the croir. Thus, 

 if the captain oxms the vessel and employs a strilcer, he is entitled to 

 80 percent of the gross receipts as against 20 percent for the striker. 

 Larger boats which are manned by a captain and two crew members rnost 

 often divide the half acci-uing to the crevj on a I1O-3O-3O basis. Since 

 this divrlsion is one that is prim.arily up to the discretion of the 

 captain and crow, the receipts may be divided in almost any conceivable 

 ratio. A 50-^0 split may be used on two-man vessels, or a 50-2^-25 

 split may be utilised if the captain is an extremely capal;lB one and 

 cre\r members feel that they vri.ll eai^n inore by working for 25 percent 

 xdth him than by working for 30 or 33-1/3 percent xri.th someone else. 



115 



