92 FISHING INDUSTRY 0¥ PLYMOUTH. 



There are tlierefore three systems of payment in use 

 among fishermen. 



1. Payment by share. (a) When men are paid for work 

 only (Plymouth trawlers) . (b) When men are paid not only 

 for work done but for fishing material supplied (Cornish 

 drift fishers). 



2. Payment by wage. 



3. Payment partly by wage and partly by share. 



As far as the greater number of men are concerned this 

 latter method would appear most advantageous, viz. that 

 they should have a small fixed income under all circum- 

 stances. They would thus be enabled to live when the trade 

 is very unremunerative, but they would be stimulated to 

 work hard in order to increase their income by sharing in 

 the proceeds of the fishery as well. 



Improvidence, Poverty. — There would appear to be a con- 

 siderable number of fishermen in the port who do not 

 recognise the importance of laying by money dui-ing good 

 times, and in consequence of the irregular nature of the 

 trade in which they are concerned and the enormous fluctua- 

 tions in the price of fish, there are without doubt a large 

 number of cases of poverty and distress amongst them 

 during bad seasons. 



In spite of this, however, the system of payment by share 

 only, in use here, is considered by the better fishermen 

 themselves, and by others who take an interest in the welfare 

 of these men, to be by far the best system of payment, and 

 calculated at any rate to make men independent, careful of 

 money, hard workers, and watchful, shrewd fishermen. 



5. The Insurance of Trawlers. 



Mutual Insurance. — There is a mutual insurance club for 

 trawling vessels, composed of the owners of vessels, and 

 managed by a president and committee elected once a year 

 from amongst themselves. 



Bates. — The club insures for total loss only, the policy being 

 limited to £300, for which there is an annual subscription 

 of £1. 



