254 SEA FISHERIES 



IV 



The seaboard cecumene explains the extreme small- 

 ness and isolation of social groups among the fishermen. 

 I have spoken of the morphology of these groups ; I 

 must now deal with their physiology. This reduces 

 itself to a study of corporative groupings. The various 

 forms of organisation to be found among sea-going 

 fishermen are the syndicat the " union " the mutual 

 invalidity societies (of insurance against sickness), com- 

 panies for insurance against the loss of gear, co-operative 

 societies for the sale of fish, and the credit maritime, the 

 seamen's banks. 



There is scarcely any fishing-port, however small it 

 may be, without its fishermen's union. The union is 

 supported by subscriptions, and has no other object 

 in principle, at all events than the defence of the 

 professional interests of the fishermen. In France there 

 have for some years past been district federations of 

 unions, for example, the Federation of South Finistere. 

 I believe some of these unions have unemployment 

 funds ; in any case, the constitution of such funds 

 would be a useful reform. 



Invalidity insurance societies are supported by monthly 

 subscriptions of from 25 to 50 centimes 2jd. to 5d. 

 They defray the cost of medicine and treatment, and 

 sometimes also give a daily dole of i fr. to i fr. 50 (9'6d. 

 to is. 2'4d.). 



The societies which insure against the loss of boats, 

 gear, &c., charge a premium which varies from 175 per 

 cent, to 3 per cent, of the value of the boats insured, and 

 from 3 per cent, to 6 per cent, of the value of the gear. 

 It often happens, as at Concarneau, that the indemnity 

 paid upon total loss is practically equal to the value of the 



