Bellerophon received a new and initially unimpressive crew after dockyard repairs, and Fisher promised months of exacting work to bring it up to standard. A midshipman's recollection describes long duties and punishment for inattention, with rewards whenever an unusually hard task ended. Fisher used food, drink, equipment, and public recognition as deliberate counterparts to discipline. This combination of pressure, reward, and attention to welfare built loyalty and avoided the desertion and disciplinary problems that troubled other commands.
Chapter · 27:38-30:34
The Bellerophon command: hard standards and reward
As captain of Bellerophon, Fisher imposed exacting work but paired it with visible rewards, building a loyal crew rather than relying on fear alone.