Legal Definitions - ewage

Ewage

Ewage is a historical legal term that refers to a fee or toll paid for the right to pass over or use a body of water. This payment was typically levied on vessels, such as boats or ships, for navigating rivers, canals, straits, or other waterways controlled by a specific authority, such as a local lord, town, or government. It was essentially a charge for water passage, akin to a modern-day road toll for land travel.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of ewage:

• A Medieval River Merchant: Imagine a merchant in the 14th century transporting barrels of wine down a major river on a barge. As the barge approached a strategic bridge or a section of the river controlled by a powerful baron, the merchant would have been required to pay ewage to the baron's toll collector. This payment granted the merchant legal passage through that specific stretch of water, ensuring their goods could continue their journey to market.

• Canal System Usage: Consider a historical canal built in the 18th century to facilitate trade between two industrial towns. Boats carrying raw materials or finished products along this canal would have been subject to ewage at various lock gates or entry points. These fees would contribute to the maintenance of the canal infrastructure, the wages of the lock keepers, and the overall operation of the waterway.

• Port Entry and Exit: In a bustling historical port city, a large sailing ship arriving from a foreign land with valuable cargo would likely have been charged ewage upon entering the harbor. This fee would cover the right to navigate the controlled harbor waters, potentially use mooring facilities, and access the docks for unloading. Similarly, a ship departing the port might also incur ewage as a charge for exiting the controlled waterway.