Lucrative

around lunchtime on Tuesday, the 1st of July 2003 by Chad

Men financed and sailed privateers because although there was enormous risk involved, the potential for reward was also enormous. The average value of a ship and cargo taken during the War of 1812 was $30,000 or $427,500 in 2002 dollars. Even split between numerous parties (sometimes as many as 100), these were excellent rewards in that day - if you were successful.

“Legal” pirates of the day, privateers were commisioned by governments to loot with abandon. Essentially outlawed in the mid-19th century, it was a fine line between true piracy and the military. Depending on the day, you could have been a pirate if you didn’t keep up with the latest developments in international treaties.
It was almost like you were getting away with something. I’m sure that the privateers treated their prisoners a *little* better than true pirates, but thats a small consolation.