368 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The earnings of steam trawlers are much greater, as a rule. The 
steam trawlers belonging to the G-rimsby company for the year ending 1 
February, 1883, averaged £2,500 to each vessel, but as these carry more 
men and their expenses are necessarily much larger, the crew’s share 
is not so large in proportion as the difference in the relative stocks ! 
would seem to indicate. 
In conversation with the skipper of a Brixham smack, I was told that | 
400 pounds of fish (exclusive of rays) is considered a good day’s catch 
for one of the trawlers working off* that port, and this amount is rather 
above than below the average. If a vessel stocks £4 a day it is thought 
she is doing well, and a skipper’s share does not generally exceed £1 
per week, and if he make 5s. or 10s. more than that he is thought to be 
“ lucky.” 
According to Mr. Charles Hellyer, of Hull, the maximum earnings of 
a sailing trawler from that port, clear of stock charges, are £1,400 a year, 
while he thinks the fleet average £850. 
He thinks an average year’s work for a skipper not owning any of 
the vessel would be £146. The skipper takes eleven sixty-fourths of 
net stock, mate nine sixty-fourths, and third hand, if by share, gets 
occasionally nine sixty fourths, but generally eight sixty-fourths, or is 
paid by the week, the wages being about £1 per week and found by 
owner. The deck or fourth hand is generally hired, as there are few 
apprentices now, and gets 18$. per week, while the cook’s wages — he 
being the smallest — ranges from 10$. to 12$. per week ; both of these 
are “found” by the owner. In addition to the shares and wages the 
crew have exclusive right to the fish livers, the proceeds from which 
are divided into four shares, the skipper, mate, and third hand getting a 
share each, the deck hand two thirds and the cook one- third of a share. 
According to the Duke of Edinburgh : 
“The crews of the trawlers engaged in the North Sea are fed by the 
owners, and receive a certain rate of pay weekly, in addition to which 
they are paid a percentage of the amount realized by the sale of all fish 
caught.” 
This statement, that the crews of the North Sea trawlers are fed by 
the owners, is only partially correct, as has been shown, since the shares- 
men pay a part of the “ grub bill.” And it is also a fact that a portion 
of the crew are hired, at least from some of the larger ports, and have 
no pecuniary interest in the catch. The statement he has made may 
apply to certain localities, as Yarmouth, for instance, but it is not gen- 
erally applicable. ’ 
“ The system of division on the Channel trawlers is somewhat differ- 
ent, namely : 
Shares. 
Owner receives 
Master receives 
Two men, each 1 share 2 
Total 
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