PROTECTION OF DEEP SEA FISHERIES. 393 



mate, or of some member or members of crew ; disease 

 of some member of crew ; state of berths or cabin ; leakiness 

 of vessel ; hard working of capstan ; gear not in proper 

 condition, rotten or insufficient ; sails rotten ; master will 

 stop at sea in bad weather ; drunkenness ; going to sea on 

 Sunday or not doing so ; mode of sharing ; boat not equal 

 to others ; made a bad commencement of voyage, and 

 got into debt for provisions ; lost nets at commencement 

 of voyage ; want holiday or spree ; don't like the calling, 

 find it too rough ; are tempted away by a better offer 

 either of wages or vessel ; don't like being cook ; fear ; object 

 to salesman ; to extort higher wages ; are used as catspaws 

 to keep out of the way at sailing time when others of crew 

 don't want to go to sea. The last two demand some 

 explanation, as they are frequent causes. The former 

 occurs at tidal harbours where, if a vessel does not get to 

 sea at a certain state of the tide, it will be useless for her 

 to sail till the next day, or when there is a glut of fish 

 and hands are scarce. For instance, an owner has his 

 vessel ready for sea, very likely a trawler, where the hands, 

 or some of them, are receiving weekly wages. A tug is 

 engaged to tow the vessel to sea at tide time. When almost 

 the last moment arrives, a man (more frequently two) 

 steps ashore and says, " Owner, we shan't go unless you 

 give us (say) two shillings a week more wages." The owner 

 is thus placed in an awkard predicament, he knows that 

 if he does not agree to the demand he will not be able to 

 get hands in their places before the tide is done, therefore, 

 rather than lose a night's fishing, which would be a much 

 heavier loss to him, in most cases he concedes to their de- 

 mand. The latter case is when a portion or perhaps the 

 whole of the crew, for whims of their own, have made up 

 their minds that they will not go to sea for a day or two, 



