Cockburn's work on paddle and screw propulsion coincided with a changing personnel problem. As sailors acquired more skills, they gained opportunities to find employment elsewhere. Retaining them required the Navy to reconsider how it punished misconduct and rewarded service. Cockburn worked particularly on reducing reliance on physical punishment, although his efforts to improve rewards were less successful. Stoppage of pay and other administrative penalties provided alternatives, alongside benefits for good service.
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Skilled sailors made disciplinary reform a personnel problem
Steam technology increased sailors' skills and outside employment options, giving the Navy another reason to reduce physical punishment.