Privateering was a system that substituted privately owned ships for those of a state or a prince, when these were lacking in ships, men or capital and were therefore incapable of pursuing a war at sea. The privateer captain's mission was to capture the cargoes of enemy ships in order to get as good a price as possible for them.
The profits from the sales, after deductions were made for the ship owner's expenses and taxes, were divided between the shareholders and the officers and crew on a scale fixed before the start of the campaign. In addition, for the prizes to be accepted, the ship owner had to be in possession of a letter of marque, an accreditation granted by a state that was at war with the seized ship's country. Unlucky the privateer who continued plying his trade after the cessation of hostilities; unable to claim the protection afforded by being an auxiliary of a legal navy, if he were captured he was considered to be a pirate and as such, hanged.
A cutlass and its sheath.
Port Museum Collection.
Corsair lugger Le Furet. Model ship. Port Museum Collection.