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Hired Fishermen
 ishermen committed themselves
to at least one season of fishing, sometimes two.
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Hired fisherman in summer clothing, 18th century
Detail of an image from Traité général des
pesches, by Duhamel du Monceau, 1772
(National Library of Canada)
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Like the proprietors, most English fishermen were from southwestern
England, Ireland and the island of Jersey. Most French fishermen were
from Normandy, Brittany and the Basque Country. The majority of them
(70%) were under the age of 35. Their contract stipulated their
wages and their rank on the crew of the ship or the shallop, or on
the shore team. Regulations introduced in 1743 set fixed wage levels
and prohibited bonuses.
The fishermen sometimes ate at the proprietor's table, but they were
housed in separate cabins. When their contract expired, two out of
three returned to Europe. They received money for the trip home, their
wages less expenses, and sometimes a small barrel of cod liver oil.
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English fishermen, 18th century
From Traité général des pesches,
by Duhamel du Monceau, 1772
(National Library of Canada)
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French fishermen, 18th century
From Traité général des pesches,
by Duhamel du Monceau, 1772
(National Library of Canada)
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Translation of employment contracts,
18th century:
Employment of Jean Renaud and Guillaume Le Roux by Sieur Guillaume
Desalleurs
Jean Renaud and Guillaume Le Roux applied and were hired as shallop
masters, who are required to supply their own crews to fish next fall
and summer for Sieur Guillaume Desalleurs, who will act as their
shoremaster. Wages will consist of thirty-eight quintals of cod for
each shallop master and thirty-six quintals of cod for each crew member,
one barrel of oil for each shallop master and a quarter barrel of oil
for each crew member, fifty measures of eau-de-vie for the fall and as
much for the summer fishery. The said Sieur Desalleurs promises to pay
half of their return fare, and seven and a half pounds of butter a week.
Made in duplicate at Niganich on June twenty-seven 1730. The said Sieur
Desalleurs also agrees to give them one bottle of eau-de-vie a week. X
the usual mark of Jean Renaud approved by us. Signed P. Eymard and
Dacarette X the usual mark of Guillaume Le Roux approved by us Signed
P. Eymard and Dacarrette.
Registered at the admiralty registry of Louisbourg, Isle Royale. The
applicant, Sieur Guillaume Desalleurs, has entered into the said
agreement on this twenty-first day of September 1730 and said that he
does not know how to sign. [Signed:
DESMAREST Notary and clerk]
Archives nationales, Paris, Series B-274, 21 September 1730.
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