good. Bargemen, when on a voyage, get an unlimited allowance of animal food and beer, with bread. They are generally stout powerful men, and though exposed to great hardships during their voyages, they appear to be very susceptible of cold when at home. I observe that they exclude every breath of air from their bed-rooms, cover themselves with a heap of clothes, and never seem so comfortable as when they are in a profuse perspiration. They commonly eat their meat broiled, with bread, but very seldom use vegetables. They receive about thirty shillings for a voyage to Stroud, besides their meat and drink. The length of time required for the voyage varies with the wind and tide, but the average may be from seven to fourteen days.
The canal boatmen are a much more feeble class of men, and live much more upon vegetables. They are usually accompanied by their wives, and, occasionally, their whole family live in the boat, but the majority of them have houses in Staffordshire. The wages usually paid for a voyage to Bilston, which is thirty-two miles distant, are twenty-five shillings. The time required for the journey is three days, but they are frequently detained many days before they can get coal. The boatman finds his own provisions, and, likewise, a hoy, horse, and lines. They are a drunken race, and many of those who are not in regular employ, are considered to be men of bad character. Those who go with the regular trading boats are respectable men. In general, the Cheshire men and their wives are the most cleanly and orderly.
The poor, here, have plenty of coal, indeed, stealing coal is not considered a crime.
