-------------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| By the Dock | |
| Company. | By Lumpers. |
+-----------------+-----------------+
| Ships. Tonnage. | Ships. Tonnage. |
West India Docks | 36 22,556 | 69 24,347 |
Commercial Docks | 2 1,186 | 154 63,213 |
Grand Surrey Canal | .. .. | 153 45,900 |
East Country Docks | .. .. | 11 3,400 |
Regent’s Canal | .. .. | 2 600 |
+ --- ------- + ---- -------- +
| 38 23,742 | 389 137,469 |
-------------------+-----------------+-----------------+
+-----------------+----------------
| |
| By Crews. | Total.
+-----------------+----------------
| Ships. Tonnage. | Ships. Tonnage.
| 24 6,796 | 129 53,699
| 259 75,096 | 415 139,495
| 59 17,000 | 212 62,900
| 64 19,091 | 75 22,500
| .. .. | 2 600
+ ---- -------- + ---- --------
| 406 117,983 | 833 279,194
+-----------------+----------------
By the above returns it will be seen, that in the course of that year
389 timber and deal ships, of 137,469 tons burthen collectively, were
discharged by lumpers. This at 9_d._ per ton, which is the price
usually given by the Dock Companies, would give 5,155_l._ 1_s._ 9_d._
as the gross amount paid to the contractors. The master-lumper derives
little or no profit out of this sum directly. This will be evident
from the subjoined statement. A gentleman at the West India Docks, who
has been all his life connected with the timber trade, informs us that
twenty men will discharge a wood-laden ship in seven days. Now,--
20 men at 3_s._ 6_d._ per day for
seven days, comes to £24 10 0
And 600 tons at 9_d._ per ton, to 22 10 0
--------
So that the master-lumper, by
this account, would lose by
the job at the very least £ 2 0 0
This statement is fully borne out by the fact that the master-lumpers
will often agree to discharge a ship for 10_l._ less than the company
could possibly afford to do it for with their own men. The question
then arises, How is it that the master-lumper is enabled to do this
and live? This is easily answered. He is generally either a publican
himself or connected with one, and the journeymen in his employ spend
at his public-house, according to the account of the wives, five-sixths
of their wages in drink, or 1_l._ out of every 24_s._ they earn.
Say, however, that only four-fifths of the gross earnings are thus
consumed, then four thousand and odd out of the 5,155_l._ will go to
the publican, and one thousand and odd pounds to the men.