PAYMENT OF DRIFTERS. 89 



two thirds share of tlie second hand's stocker^ and three 

 quarters share of his salvage money. 



Earnings of Apprentice. — The apprentice is obliged to 

 deposit his earnings with the officer of the Mercantile Marine, 

 and is allowed from these earnings, during the first and 

 second year of his service. Is. a week " spending money," 

 and during the remainder of his term 2s. a week. This is 

 all the money he is allowed to have. Naturally the boy 

 does not make a full return of his earnings ; if he did so, it 

 is calculated that at the end of his term of apprenticeship 

 he would have about £25 to £50 in the hands of the Mer- 

 cantile Marine officer. 



On completion of his term of apprenticeship to his 

 master's satisfaction he receives three suits of clothes, one 

 pair of boots, one great coat, and £1 Is.* 



2. Payment of Drifters. 



Plymouth Drift Fishermen. — The value of the catch is 

 divided into eleven shares. Of these the owner has five 

 and a quarter ; skipper, one and a quarter ; second hand, 

 one ; third hand, one ; fourth hand, one ; fifth hand, one ; 

 boy, half. 



The owner finds the boat and all the gear, and makes 

 good all repairs and losses. 



On account of the greater comparative value of the nets 

 employed in drift fishing, the owner has a considerably 

 greater proportion of the gross amount of the catch than the 

 owner of a trawler is allowed. 



Cornish Drift Fishermen. — With the Plymouth system 

 it is interesting to compare the system of payment adopted 

 by Cornish drift fishermen. The latter is, in fact, a co- 

 operative system, and is probably directly derived from the 

 most primitive co-operative method. 



The owner of a boat forms an " adventure " for each 

 fishing season. For instance, in the mackerel season, the 

 owner gets together a crew for his boat, who undertake to 

 man his boat for the season. 



* I am indebted for most of this information to Mr. W. H. G. Deacon, the 

 Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office in Plymouth (No. 31). 



