ORDER IX. PERSONS ENGAGED ABOUT ANIMALS. FISHERMEN. THE census for 1861 gave the numbers employed as Number of fishermen or fisherwomen as follows: persons employed. This is, however, far below the real number. The commissioners for the British fisheries in their report for the year 1865 (1) gave the number employed in the fisheries in Scotland at 44,459 fishermen and boys, exclusive of as many employed about the fisheries. The fishery commissioners of Ireland gave the number employed on the coast of Ireland during 1865 at 37,920 fishermen and boys. have no such accounts for England and Wales, but the Life-Boat Institution, in their journal, stated that the fishery boats in the United Kingdom numbered about 40,000, probably manned by 160,000 men and boys, in the proportion perhaps of four men to one boy. We Among fishermen, some work by wages at so Wages. (1) Report of Commissioners on the Sea Fisheries of the United Kingdom. Annual amount of wages. much a week, others are paid by a proportion of what they catch, and a large number divide the produce with the owner of the boat, in certain agreed proportions. In the oyster fishery at Swansea the oysters are all sold in bulk, and then each man gets 2/6 a thousand; the captain, 3/; and the boat, 4/ ; the owner taking one-third, whatever that may be. At Lerwick fishermen have the half of the catch, a share of the fishing, and other perquisites. At Plymouth the proceeds of the fish is divided into seven shares, the master getting a share and a half, the men a share, the boys a half share, and the owner three shares. But there is great uncertainty in the results. Two boats will sail together for the same fishing ground; one will return overladen with fish, the other quite disappointed. Taking the whole number of fishermen, the average earning may be estimated at 20/ for men, and 6/ for boys. In many cases, however, fishermen have other employments. They work on land, have a small potato ground, make kelp of seaweed, or get other occasional labour. And when they are paid by wages, all the time they are at sea they are fed at the expense of the owners. Hours of labour. Seeing, however, the small number given in the census as fishermen, it is safer to calculate their income, independently of what they may earn in other occupations, at £2,100,000 men, £300,000 boys; total, £2,400,000. The labour is great and intermittent. For many nights consecutively fishermen are out. In some cases, where the boats are large enough, they have sleeping accommodation; but when the boats are small the hardship is great. boats. When the fisherman is paid by wages he defrays Cost of no part of the expense; but it is otherwise when he works by shares. A pilchard boat will cost upwards of £200; a herring boat, £35 to £40; a trawl boat, about £20;, a line boat, £60; a seine boat, £15, besides the cost of fitting her up. but The great danger of life with fishermen is from Health. wreck. In 1865, 98 fishing smacks were wrecked, many isolated accidents occur of which we have no account. The Royal National Life-Boat Institution, and the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society—the one to save life and the other to assist and relieve all wrecked seamen - are conferring an immense benefit on the seafaring classes of the United Kingdom.(1) (1) The Royal National Life-Boat Institution has 162 life-boats, and by them and other special exertions it is enabled to save from 600 to 700 lives in a year. In 1866 the Life-Boat Institution has been the means of saving 921 lives. The Shipwrecked Mariners' Society has been instituted for three objects: 1st. To board, lodge, clothe, and forward to their homes, or to their nearest consuls, if foreigners, all wrecked seamen or other poor persons of all nations. 2nd. To assist seamen to replace their clothes, boats, &c., when lost by storm or other accidents of the sea, and to relieve their widows; and 3rd. To give gold and silver medals or other pecuniary rewards for any praiseworthy endeavour to save life from shipwreck. Other institutions of great benefit to seamen are: the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, the Sailors' Homes, and the recently-established Belvidere Institution and Mariners' National Pension and Widows' Fund. HORSE-KEEPERS, GAME-KEEPERS, AND DROVERS. Number of AMONG these are horse-keepers, game-keepers, ployed. drovers, and others engaged in minor occupations. persons em Wages. Anuual The earnings of these classes of persons vary very much. The wages of horse-keepers are 21/ in London, and 15/ to 18/ in the country. Gamekeepers and drovers earn 12/ to 16/ each per week. For the whole number we shall take 15/ for men ; 6/ boys; 8/ women; 5/ girls. £ 359,000 amount of wages. 15/ 2,300,000 CLASS V.-INDUSTRIAL. ORDER X. PERSONS ENGAGED IN ART AND MECHANIC PRODUC- PRINTERS. SUB-ORDER 1. PRINTERS are found in every part of the United Locality. Kingdom, but it is in London and Edinburgh that the bulk of the printing is carried on. Printing offices are usually small. of labour. The labour of printers is divided between com- Conditions positors, readers, pressmen, and machinemen. An apprenticeship of seven years is required to become a journeyman printer, except that the eldest son of a printer has a right by patrimony to become a journeyman without indenture. labour. Among printers there are offices with day work Hours of only, and offices where night work is always going on, and offices with a mixed work. Those who work in the day commence at eight in the morning and end at eight in the evening. Those who work at E |