WAGES AND PROFITS 175 



1909. The average earnings of the steamers amounted 

 to ^530; of the motor-boats, ^295 ; and of the sailing 

 boats, ^134. The earnings of the steamers were 

 practically identical with those of 1909 (^529), but 

 those of the sailing boats compare unfavourably with 

 last year's earnings, which amounted to ^204. 



The great railway strike in August 1911 gave proof, 

 which was scarcely needed, of the paralysing effect of 

 labour troubles on the modern steam-fishing industry. 

 It also showed the hardship inflicted by irresponsible 

 demagogues on, amongst others, toiling fishermen. The 

 strike meant that many laborious hauls of trawls on the 

 North Sea banks were wasted energy, for when the 

 cargoes of fish were brought to market it was impossible 

 to unload them, and the North Sea men, who were 

 innocent of any participation in the troubles ashore, were 

 robbed of the fruits of their toil as the result of the glib 

 vapourings of agitators. E normous quantities of valuable 

 and nutritious food were wasted solely as the result of 

 the action of these self-appointed leaders in industrial 

 troubles. 



By way of showing how resourceful are those 

 business mea who direct the North Sea fleeting, I may 

 mention that when the strike paralysed the fish trade of 

 some of the ports, particularly that of Grimsby, arrange- 

 ments were made to send a number of steam-trawlers 

 direct to Billingsgate, and that in the middle of August 

 there was to be seen the uncommon spectacle of several 

 of these vessels unloading their fish, as well as the 

 carriers from the fleets. The lesson was useful as 

 indicating the resources of modern business enterprise 

 and the impossibility of labour agitators carrying out 



