104
BARBARA E. WARD
picked out in the above table had no special economic significance in the local scheme of things. Both entry into and retirement from full participation in economic activity were gradual processes, taking place within the ordinary context of family living. Generally speaking, the economic life cycle of a Kau Sai fisherman followed a smooth, uninterrupted curve, rather than a series of age-linked stages, as he gradually developed from babyhood to full participation and as gradually declined to old age and death. The arrival of schools and examinations has not so far altered this state of affairs.
One result, however, is that it is almost impossible to state with any accuracy who were or were not economically dependent. If we assume that all adults, however aged, and all children over 10 could and did contribute something to productivity, we are left with a total of 160 child dependents in 1953 (and in 1970): a little more than one fifth of the total Boat population. But even this estimate can be misleading, for girls of 6 and upwards help with domestic chores, and even younger ones (and boys too) can mind the babies -- sometimes for hours at a time.
Hired hands
Every boat's master in Kau Sai would have liked to manage his fishing business with family labour alone, but not all were able to do so. At no time during the 20 years 1950-1970 did any small long-liner have to engage hired hands, but as we have seen the medium long-liners and some of the purse-seiners were less fortunate.
The actual number of hired men employed fluctuated with the increase or decrease in the numbers of able-bodied family members. A death or the out-marriage of a daughter could entail the decision to employ a fookai (for-gay, lit: goods remember, used of any paid employee); a child's maturation or the in-marriage of a daughter-in-law could result in sacking one, and in each case the consequent economic disadvantage or advantage would add to or detract from the general feelings of pleasure or otherwise appropriate to the occasion. When my census was taken in 1953, the 1 medium long liner and 12 of the purse-seiners had hired
104
BARBARA E. WARD
picked out in the above table had no special economic signifi- cance in the local scheme of things. Both entry into and retirement from full participation in economic activity were gradual processes, taking place within the ordinary context of family living. Generally speaking, the economic life cycle of a Kau Sai fisherman followed a smooth, uninterrupted curve, rather than a series of age-linked stages, as he gradually de- veloped from babyhood to full participation and as gradually declined to old age and death. The arrival of schools and examinations has not so far altered this state of affairs.
One result, however, is that it is almost impossible to state with any accuracy who were or were not economically depend- ent. If we assume that all adults, however aged, and all children over 10 could and did contribute something to productivity, we are left with a total of 160 child dependents in 1953 (and [sic] in 1970): a little more than one fifth of the total Boat population, But even this estimate can be misleading, for girls of 6 and upwards help with domestic chores, and even younger ones (and boys too) can mind the babies -- sometimes for hours at a time.
Hired hands
Every boat's master in Kau Sai would have liked to manage his fishing business with family labour alone, but not all were able to do so. At no time during the 20 years 1950-1970 did any small long-liner have to engage hired hands, but as we have seen the medium long-liners and some of the purse-seiners were less fortunate.
The actual number of hired men employed fluctuated with the increase or decrease in the numbers of able-bodied family members. A death or the out-marriage of a daughter could entail the decision to employ a foki (for-gay, lit: goods remember, used of any paid employee); a child's maturation or the in-marriage of a daughter-in-law could result in sacking one, and in each case the consequent economic disadvantage or advantage would add to or detract from the general feelings of pleasure or otherwise appropriate to the occasion. When my census was taken in 1953, the I medium long liner and 12 of the purse-seiners had hired
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