Von Heuerbaasen und Landhaien: Flensburger Heuerstellen um 1900

Abstract

"For centuries, the hiring of seamen was a task traditionally dominated by private shipping masters, so-called Heuerbaase. The majority of these hiring agents were the keepers of inns or rooming houses who earned extra money with this lucrative sideline. Their business success was often attained at the cost of the employment-seeking seamen, who were entirely at the mercy of the Landhaie (land sharks), as the shipping masters were often called. In many cases, the system of private hiring agencies brought about grave social problems, which the seamen denounced more and more openly as the nineteenth century drew to a close. The article retraces the development of the hiring system around the turn of the century - 1900 - on the basis of the example of Flensburg. Insight is provided into circumstances that can be regarded as typical for port towns at that time and of that size in the North and Baltic Sea region. Individual shipping masters are introduced, and many of the difficulties facing both seamen and shipping companies of that time are illustrated with brief examples." (author's abstract