Scotland in the nineteenth century

10. Labour

Section 10.7: Seamen

Objections had been received that the merchant seaman's fund was paying out less than it should have been and that the money was not being fairly distributed.

The fund had been set up under the Seamen Act, 1836 for the maintenance and relief of sick, maimed and disabled seamen, and the widows and children of those killed while in the merchant service. In 1840 the fund was applicable to the seamen of London and 38 other ports.

The Act required payment of 2s monthly by every master of a merchant ship of these ports and 1s monthly from every seaman serving or employed on these ships; the payment being collected when the ship unloaded. The fund was used for providing hospitals, relieving widows, and providing for orphaned children.

Appendix: Reports on Scottish ports, Glasgow (pp. 81-3 and p. 94).