Dietary, then, required.
The amount of provision by the Parliamentary scale to each adult passenger per week was, viz., water, 21 quarts; biscuit, 2½ lbs.; wheaten flour, 1 lb.; oatmeal, 5 lbs.; rice, 2 lbs.; molasses, 2 lbs., to be issued in advance, at the interval of twice a week. Potatoes might be given in lieu of oatmeal or rice, in the proportion of 5 lbs. of potatoes for 1 lb. of oatmeal or rice; and, in vessels sailing from Liverpool, or from Scotch or Irish ports, oatmeal might be substituted in equal quantities for rice. The dietary was afterwards altered by the Act of 1851, an alternative scale being promulgated, with the substitution of beef or pork, preserved meat, salt fish, split peas, &c., &c., for bread-stuffs. This more expensive scale was adopted in the ports, whence English emigrants usually sailed; but, besides the legal supply, nearly every emigrant took with him some additional provision, such as bacon, eggs, &c., &c.
Disgraceful state of emigrant ships at that time.
The filthy state of these ships during the passage was, at that period, worse than anything that could be imagined. It was scarcely possible to induce the passengers to sweep the decks after their meals, or to be decent with respect to the common wants of nature; in many cases, in bad weather, they could not go on deck, their health suffered so much that their strength was gone, and they had not the power to help themselves.[153] Hence, “between decks” was like a loathsome dungeon. When the hatchways were opened under which the people were stowed, the steam rose, and the stench was like that from a pen of pigs. The few beds they had were in a dreadful state, for the straw, once wet with sea-water, soon rotted; besides which, they used the between decks for all sorts of filthy purposes. Whenever vessels put back from distress, all these miseries and sufferings were exhibited in the most aggravated form. In one case, it appeared that the vessel, having experienced rough weather, the people were unable to go on deck and cook their provisions; the strongest maintained the upper hand over the weakest; and it was even said that there were women, who died of starvation. The passengers were then expected to cook for themselves (they no longer do so), and, from being unable to do this, the greatest suffering arose. It was at the commencement of the voyage, that this system, naturally, produced its worst effects. The first days were those in which the people suffered most from sea-sickness, and, under the prostration of body thereby induced, were wholly incapacitated from cooking; the absence of food, if it does not aggravate, at any rate preventing recovery from sickness: and thus, even though the provisions might be honestly and liberally issued—casks in some cases being opened and placed on deck for every one to help himself—yet the passengers would be half-starved. It was time that a system, so barbarous and withal so unnecessary, should be altered.
Act of 1852.
Resolution of New York Legislature, 1854.
In 1852, various recommendations made were carried into effect by a bill brought in by Mr. Frederick Peel; and, in 1855, the whole law was consolidated and greatly improved by the Passengers Act of that year. In fact, it cannot be denied that whatever improvements had taken place through the operation of the laws of 1849 and 1852, the passengers on board emigrant ships were still, as a rule, great sufferers. The United States Legislatures bear convincing testimony on this point, as, on the 6th January, 1854, that of the State of New York passed a series of resolutions, calling the attention of Congress to the great and increasing mortality on board vessels engaged in the business of carrying emigrants during the previous twelve months, bringing forward undoubted evidence that such suffering and death resulted from insufficient ventilation, &c. The Senate, agreeing with the prayer of these resolutions, concurred, also, in the propriety of inquiry and further legislation. All intelligent, independent parties admitted, indeed, the expediency of concerting an effective system of co-operation between the two governments, so as to prevent an infraction of the regulations mutually agreed upon.
Evidence as to iron cargoes.
In conformity with the evidence adduced, frequent disasters to emigrant vessels were ascribed to the effects produced by cargoes of iron; while the inconsiderate manner in which some owners, charterers, or brokers, even against the remonstrances of the commanders and officers, persisted in thus loading their vessels, was alleged to be a fruitful source of disaster.[154] It is likely that the mortality at sea was increased by such cargoes, as they made the ship labour heavily, causing her at the same time to ship a great quantity of water, with the further probability of producing leaks. The people, too, had then to work at the pumps, were hard fagged and badly fed. But the owners or charterers for a time resisted Government intervention, asserting that the Legislature ought not to fetter mercantile enterprise; and, further, that, if ships were restricted as to cargo, the price of the passage must be raised. On the other hand, it was proposed to give a larger discretionary power to the Emigration officer, so as to prevent improper and dangerous stowage. The insufficiency of existing measures of precautions for the preservation of health; the dietaries, the quality of the ships taken up for passengers, the runners, lodging, detention, &c., of emigrants, all became subjects of consideration, and, especially, the number of boats necessary to be carried.
Various attempts at improvement.