East India shipping relied heavily on Lascar and other Asian sailors, particularly on voyages between India and China. The ships returning to Britain also carried them, but in smaller proportions. Lower crew costs are acknowledged as part of this employment pattern. Route and crew composition therefore need to be considered together when comparing ships within the company trade.
Notable Point · 55:06-55:26
Lascar crews were concentrated on regional Asian routes
Crew composition followed route geography, with a larger Lascar presence on India-China voyages than on ships returning to Britain.