### L1683 risks and profits were enormous for sailors > The value of the coastal trade was enormous, but always dispersed, in the hands of individual ship owners and small-time merchants backed by interests ashore. Risks were enormous, for there was no insurance. But the profits could be immense, which is why so many ships went to sea. This doesn't make sense; it's not like the ships were treating things when their own right, they were usually doing the expensive stuff on behalf of leaders because it was used for dowry's etc. - [[Beyond the Blue Horizon by Brian Fagan#L1683 risks and profits were enormous for sailors|View in Vault]]