Montagu's recapture of British merchantmen did not generate the ordinary prize money paid for enemy property. Insurance companies instead paid a bounty because the owners recovered their ships and cargoes. Without that compensation, recovered property could be sold at auction. Higher auction prices benefited naval crews, and officers could arrange for a suitably dressed friend to raise the bidding.
Notable Point · 1:23:30-1:24:37
Insurance bounties rewarded recaptured merchant ships
Recapturing British merchant property brought insurance bounties rather than ordinary enemy prize money, aligning private and naval incentives.