CHAPTER IV 

 THE FISHERMEN 



I. The share system Its mechanism Boulogne, and its local com- 

 plications : Fecamp. II. Fitting-out for the ocean fisheries 

 Modes of payment : by the fifth ; by the task ; by the quintal ; 

 by shares ; by weekly or monthly wage. III. Summary 

 Wages at Boulogne and abroad. IV. Various forms of organi- 

 sation among ocean-going fishermen ; insurance societies ; 

 Credit Maritime. V. Arbitration The maritime inscripts and 

 the State ; the Naval Pensioners' Fund (Caisse des invalides de 

 la marine) ; the Prudential Fund (Caisse de prcvoyance) ; the 

 law of April 17, 1907. 



THE imperfect development of the sea-board cecumene 

 has made of the French fisherman the man we 

 all know ; an essentially local product, very like his 

 brother the farmer ; in short, a creature still somewhat 

 primitive. Now, if we know something of primitive 

 societies, no matter what their period or locality, 

 we know that very diverse and complex forms of 

 organisation are found in their midst. It is quite 

 an arduous task to give an account of the ) relations 

 between fishermen and shipowners, fishermen and net- 

 owners, &c. 



The fisherman may own his boat, or own (more 

 probably) a share of it, or he may be a wage-earner. 



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