440 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



about twenty shillings for a lost net, and two shillings to 

 three and sixpence for a spoilt one, but this varies much at 

 different ports. At ports where crews share the losses a 

 very perceptible difference may be noticed in the way the 

 voyage is pursued. At the commencement when there is 

 no money in hand for the owner to stop in case of lost 

 gear, the boats as a rule shoot much more boldly than they 

 will do at the end of the voyage when they have earned 

 money, and know that, if they lose gear, they will have to 

 bear a proportion of the loss. If they lose gear when they 

 have no money in hand, the crews will often desert, and 

 thus get clear of their liability, both as regards lost gear and 

 money due to tradesmen for provisions, thus compelling 

 the owner to bear all the loss, and possibly to lose the rest 

 of the voyage for want of hands ; whereas it might be 

 made up if the crew were compelled to finish it according 

 to their agreement. In liners the owner generally provides 

 gear and takes all losses. Thus it will be seen that it is 

 impossible for one form of agreement to meet all these 

 varied cases, and further proof of this might be given. 



In clause 3 the master agrees on behalf of, and with the 

 consent of, the owner to pay the crew their wages or share, 

 and to find provisions as per scale. At some ports the custom 

 is for the owner to find all provisions, at others for the crew 

 to find them, or for the provisions to be taken out of the 

 gross earnings ; this applies to all classes of vessels as well 

 as ports. It is a matter of private contract, each owner 

 working his vessel on the plan he prefers. Thus all that 

 the owner is bound to do is to give the crew what they 

 earn on board his vessel. There ought to be two sides to 

 every agreement, and if the crew are to be bound to certain 

 things, so in all fairness ought the owner to be on his part. 

 The owner should state what his part of the contract is, to 



