n8 LIFE INSURANCE FOR FISHERMEN. 



such classes are, undoubtedly, fishermen and fishing-boat 

 owners. The former, when pursuing their calling, literally 

 carry their lives in their hands ; whilst the risks of the 

 latter are so great that no underwriters are found willing to 

 insure more than a portion of their property, and that, too, 

 at an exceedingly high rate. I purpose to consider the 

 subject of insurance as it affects fishermen and fishing-boat 

 owners in all its bearings ; and in order that I may do so 

 in a clear and precise manner, I shall treat it under the 

 three following heads : Insurance of Eishermen ; Insurance 

 of Fishing-boats and their Stores ; Insurance of Fishing 

 Gear. 



INSURANCE OF FISHERMEN. 



It would be impossible to over-estimate the importance 

 of insurance to fishermen, because there is no avocation 

 which entails greater risk to life and limb than theirs. 

 Occasionally the country is startled by the results of some 

 terrible gale, in which many gallant fishing craft, with all 

 their crews, have been engulphed by the treacherous sea ; 

 but continually, all around our coasts, there are being 

 drowned fishermen of whose deaths the general public 

 never even hear. Reliable statistics on this point it is 

 impossible to obtain. Were the sea-coasts divided into 

 districts, as they should be, with competent officers to 

 report regularly to Government upon all matters affecting, 

 directly and indirectly, fishermen and their calling, this 

 matter would receive due attention ; and I doubt not it 

 would then be found that the accidental mortality amongst 

 fishermen is as large, if it be not larger, than the accidental 

 mortality amongst even the coal-miners of the whole 

 country. 



Putting aside all eleemosynary considerations, the 



