Prize money helps explain why sailors could prefer frigates to ships of the line. Capturing a major warship in a fleet battle offered a large potential reward, but such battles were infrequent and dangerous. A well-placed frigate squadron had more regular opportunities to capture merchant vessels, alongside opportunities for promotion. Several French merchant prizes could produce a steadier income when sold at auction to mercantile firms in British ports. This earlier example connects naval service choices to expected earnings and risk, providing context for the later emphasis on pay at Invergordon.
Notable Point · 41:26-42:35
Why frigate prize money attracted sailors
Frigate service offered repeated chances to earn prize money from merchant captures, while a large reward from a fleet battle was rarer and carried greater risk.