114 ALONGSHORE "i 



Therein lies the strength of the fisherman's 

 economic position : the fish he brings ashore he 

 has paid nothing for, and what he is paid for his 

 labour he spends at home; so that the country 

 has Its fish and keeps Its money too. But it 

 Is equally true, from the longshoreman's point 

 of view, that he does pay rent, and to a most 

 capricious landlord, the sea itself — his rent being 

 the upkeep of his boats and gear, and damage 

 or total loss by storm. (Boats on a beach are 

 not Insurable.) And In any case, It Is clear that 

 low rent, or no rent at all, will be quite useless 

 if he cannot obtain for what he has to sell a price 

 high enough to pay his working expenses; if. In 

 other words, he cannot find, ready for him, 

 markets good enough to procure him that price. 

 (Fishing companies and combines, like large 

 farmers, are able to a great extent to make their 

 own markets and look after themselves.) Of the 

 many longshore fisheries around the British coasts, 

 most are declining, and some are practically dead. 

 Such decay can be put down partly to the de- 

 pletion of British waters, and partly to social and 

 educational changes, which have made men less 

 ready to face the hardships of longshore fishing; 

 but, as one sees after turning over In one's mind 



