252 SEA FISHERIES 



borrowed from the ecoreur, that is, the shipowner, such 

 money as they required for the fitting-out and working of 

 the vessel, and at the end of the season paid him the 

 interest on his money at the rate of 5 per cent, of the 

 gross sales. However, as the number of vessels incessantly 

 increased, ecorage gradually disappeared and was replaced 

 by the share system which I have already described. In 

 its turn, the system of shares is to-day replaced by the 

 system of fixed wages. The introduction of steam trawlers, 

 or in other words the extension of the cecumene and 

 the progressive industrialisation of the trade of fishery, has 

 resulted in the introduction of the system of salaried 

 employment among the fishers of Boulogne, as formerly 

 it was introduced into factories and workshops. By this 

 system the shipowner, the proprietor of boats and gear, 

 pays the men by the month .4 as a rule and feeds 

 them. Besides this he gives the patron a share, and a 

 bonus to the crew, according to the yield of the boat, 

 so that what with wages and " gratifications " the hands 

 may earn a total of ^5 a month. 



The wage system is widespread in England, Scotland, 

 and Germany. The result is that on one hand you will 

 find capitalists ; on the other, fishermen-labourers, to 

 coin a term. They are often ill partners. During the 

 season of 1900-01 the market prices at Grimsby fell so 

 low that the fleet-owners were forced to reduce wages. 

 The fishermen replied by a strike, which lasted six 

 months. At Geestmunde the staff and crew, excepting 

 the captain, go to sea on fixed wages ; but they receive 

 the livers of the fish, for which the fish-oil factories offer 

 them regular prices. The captain receives from 6 to 

 8 per cent, of the sales ; the second in command 10 

 per month ; the master .4 153. ; the men .4 55. ; the 

 chief -engineer from 6 to 9 45., &c. 



