756 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



of the crews demauded higher wages, which the association could not 

 grant, and even went to law about it. The issue of this lawsuit, which 

 is still pending, is not doubtful, as the decision of the inferior court was 

 unfavorable to the association. 



The chief cause of all this must be found in the tendency to strike^ 

 which is unfortunately so common in Germany, and which had also 

 spread among the otherwise steady workingmen of Eastern West- 

 phalia, Oldenburg, and the Lippe principalities. The result of the strike 

 was that the crews received, besides their wages, a certain percentage 

 of the fish caught by them ; this, however, was only granted by the 

 association on condition of strict obedience and good behavior. These 

 conditions must of course be filled to the letter, while the crews thought 

 they could ignore them, and appropriated considerable quantities of 

 herring under the pretext that they were allowed to make presents to 

 their relatives. Although there was no provision made in the "rules 

 and regulations for sailors" for such a percentage, the inferior court 

 held the opinion that one of the above-mentioned regulations applied 

 in this case, which provided small fines for offenses of this kind. Of 

 late, the relation between the association and the crews has become 

 more amicable, and the time does not seem to be distant when the crews 

 will be allowed a certain clearly stated percentage of the fish caught by 

 them. 



In order to ascertain this percentage, sales are held immediately on 

 the arrival of the vessels at which the association itself becomes a buyer 

 when the demand is not very great and the prices consequently low. 

 Of these prices a deduction is made for barrels and 3 per cent, for the 

 dividend ; and the crews then receive the following percentage : 



Per cent. 

 1 captain 4 



1 mate 2J 



8 sailors ® 2 per cent 16 



2 sailors ® 1^ per cent 3 



1 sailor ® 1 per cent 1 



1 boy ® f per cent I 



1 boy ® ^ per cent ^ 



15 men 27f 



During the first two years, the captains, according to their assiduity, 

 skill, and good luck, made from $200-$300, besides their board and lodg- 

 ing; which was quite a good sum for five months' service. During the 

 three years, 1874-187G, the other members of the crew received very 

 good weekly wages instead of their percentage ; although not as many 

 fish were caught as during the preceding years, especially in 1875 and 

 187G, when not half as many were caught as in 1872 and 1873 ; so that 

 the crews have alwaj,^ made a very decent living. 



Meanwhile a change of directors had taken place in 1875. The new 



