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Table 4.5

Comparison of Midwives' Earnings with Fishermen's Wages

Period Midwife
(daily earnings) 		Fisherman
(daily earnings)
ca. 1790s-1802 2.s. 4d.a 2s. 2d.-5s. 9d.b
1822 4s. 5d.c 1s. 10d.-2s. 9d.d

Notes: a For a nine-day lying-in period, £1.1.0.

b The earnings shown for fishermen during this period relate to the entire English Shore, whereas the earnings shown for 1822 relate specifically to the southern Avalon. Also, this range (2s. 2d.-5s. 9d) reflects earnings for two years only: in 1798 the range for daily earnings was 2s. 2d.-2s. 5d (for seasonal earnings, £19-£21), and in 1802 the range for daily earnings was 3s. 6d.-5s. 9d. (for seasonal earnings, £30-50£).

c For a nine-day lying-in period, £2.

d For seasonal earnings, the range is £16-£25.

Sources: Derived from table 4.1 and various court records from the period.

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