https://www.commonlii.org/uk/cases/EngR/1820/

HARRIS V. WATSON.

(No action will he at the suit of a sailor on a promise of the captain to pay him extra wages in consideration of his doing more than the ordinary share of duty in navigating the ship)

In this case the declaration stated, that the plaintiff being a seaman on board the ship" Alexander," of which the defendant was master and commander, and which was bound on a voyage to Lisbon whilst the ship was on her voyage, the defendant, in consideration that the plaintiff would perform some extra work, in navigating the ship, promised to pay him five guineas over and above his common wages. There were other counts for work and labour, &c

The plaintiff proved that the ship being in danger, the defendant, to induce the seamen to exert themselves, made the promise stated in the first count

[103] Lord Kenyon -If this action was to be supported, it would materially affect the navigation of this kingdom It has been long since determined, that when the freight is lost, the wages are also lost (a)3. This rule was founded on a principle of policy, for if sailors were in all events to have their wages, and in times of danger entitled to insist on an extra charge on such a promise as this, they would in many cases suffer a ship to sink, unless the captain would pay any extravagant demand they might think proper to make.

The plaintiff was nonsuited.