336 OUR HERITAGE THE SEA 



and come to the smaller fry, whose numbers are legion, 

 we are in a sea of perplexity. 



Some of the smaller companies, honestly managed, 

 and faithfully served because the servants are decently 

 treated, are exceedingly prosperous. Life in them is 

 hard, for they are not floating hotels by any means, nor 

 are the rates of pay for the officers high the wages of 

 the men are practically the same in the smallest tramp 

 as in the largest liner. But still there is honest 

 dealing and a fair amount of satisfaction all round. 

 When, however, we leave these we come to the real 

 tramp, the cheap tank, under-engined, under-manned, 

 and under-paid, run by the managing owner, who is 

 also a broker and taxes everybody, from the master who 

 must invest his hard-earned savings in order to get a 

 command which is worth 12 or 15 a month, and 

 who knows that to inquire after a dividend is to get 

 the sack (vulgarly speaking) without being able to 

 realize his investment, to the country clergyman or 

 maiden lady who has been led by specious promises 

 to invest their little all in shipping. This form of 

 shipping enterprise is of no use to the country, it 

 is more of a curse than a blessing, but unfortunately 

 it fills a very large space in our mercantile marine. 



Another vast change has been brought about in 

 shipping matters by the almost universal extension 

 of the telegraph cable, as well as by the establishment 

 of brokers' offices in practically all the ports of the 

 world. This has shorn the master of much of his 

 responsibility, and vastly limited his power of making 

 a little extra on his scanty pay. In almost every case 

 nowadays the master is solely concerned with getting 

 his ship to port in safety and good time. As soon 



