[37] ... Two main methods of paying wages were in use in the merchant navy in the 19th century. While some ships paid a fixed sum for each voyage, regardless of its duration, most foreign-going vessels paid wages on a monthly basis. There were also a few ships, mostly steamers in the shorter foreign trades, which began paying weekly wages towards the end of the period under discussion, and apprentices differed from all other ranks in that they received a small annual payment during the term of their indenture.