G. E. Rodolakis, Vessels ʻʻeis naulonʼʼ and vessels ʻʻsermayelidikaʼʼ in the Aegean (mid 17th - first quarter 19th century)
In the article I explore two different systems of exploiting a vessel on the basis of unpublished documents from the Aegean islands, dated in the period between the mid 17th to the first quarter of the 19th century; some of them are published in the Appendix.
A. Vessels «sermayelidika» is a system whereby the owner of a vessel with capital made out of loans called «sermaya». is carrying and trading for his own profit, that is buying, carrying with his vessel and selling goods. Main part of this documentation relies on contracts from Hydra.
B. Vessels «eis naulon» is a system according to which the freight is the object of a bilateral agreement between the ship-owner and the trader, owner of goods. The main documentation comes from the late 17th century Naxos, but it is supplemented with contracts from Paros. Myconos. Hydra an other islands.
I conclude that the contractual relations described above are regulated by rules of a customary commercial and maritime law developed. These rules express common commercial practices applied, despite local variations, by traders in the Mediterranean.
