Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Henry Mayhew: Dredgerman

dredgerman

A dredgerman scavenges coal, bones, rope, metal, etc.
a waterman is licensed to carry passengers;
a lighter carries goods only

The above illustration is used in Charles Dickens' "Our Mutual Friend". It is very well-known that Dickens was very exacting about the illustrations used in his books. Dickens actively sought out the artist he felt would provide a realistic illustration.

Henry Mayhew was careful to reproduce exactly, the language, occupations (specific detailed task descriptions), and descriptions of equipment used. In the case of the dredgermen, Mayhew was very explicit: the dredgerman's boat had a "sharp cutwater fore and aft". In addition, Mayhew points out that a dredgerman's boat has grappling irons and a dredging-net. It is absolutely clear that the boat depicted above by Marcus Stone, under Dickens' supervision, is not the typical dredgerman's boat.

The above engraving is entitled "The Bird of Prey". However, dredgermen, by removing dead bodies from the Thames, the water supply of London, actually performed an public health function, and may have helped to prevent cholera, typhus, the plague, and other water-borne diseases. (By removing dead bodies, dredgermen also reduced the number of rats.)

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