I’ve been searching for examples of this song older than Hugill’s book, and this is what I have found:


From F. W. H. Symondson, Two Years Abaft the Mast: Or, Life as a Sea Apprentice (Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1876), page 150:

His songs were capital in every way, but the one which always sent us raving in sympathy of mind and heart was one entitled “The Merchant Shipping Act”—a clever, ironical skit upon that blundering piece of marine red-tapism. It was a little deficient in rhyme, but Jack does not mind that so long as his feelings are expressed. The chorus went

“So what’s the use of growling when you know you get your ‘whack’—
Tea, sugar, and coffee, and everything exact?
So what’s the use of growling when you know it is a fact—
Lime-juice and vinegar according to the Act?”

* * *
From Robert Elliott, “Act of God” (London: Duckworth & Co., 1907), page 356.

Hudson could hear them singing above his head a rough doggerel ditty which usually signifies discontent aboard ship, beginning, “What’s the use of growling when you know you get your whack?” Twice of late the crew had all come aft in a body to demand sufficient water, “according to the Act”; and once they had demanded more meat too.

* * *
From The Mariner’s Mirror, Vol. 6, No. 1 (London and Birmingham: J. G. Hammond, January, 1920), page 31, under the heading “Queries.”

18. The “Merchant Shipping Act.”—Can anyone give me the complete words of this song? I have heard it sung fairly often, but only remember odd lines and the chorus. A friend has sent me three stanzas and a variant of the chorus; but my recollection is that there are about a dozen verses. I have asked a number of people for the words, but though everyone remembers something of it, no one can add to what I already have, and an old friend who used to sing it through some years ago can now remember no more than the chorus. I have looked to see whether it is included in any of the several books of sea songs, but have not succeeded in finding it, nor indeed can I remember ever to have seen it in print. An alternative title is “The Lime Juice Ship.”

I’ll sing about a sailor man that sails upon the sea
In coasters and deep-water ships, wherever they may be,
Incurring needless hardships in earning others wealth.
Now this is true what I tell you, for I’ve seen it all myself.

Chorus.
But what’s the use of grumbling? You know you’ve got the whack.
You’ve got your pound, you’ve got your pint, according to the Act.
So what’s the good of grumbling? You know it is a fact
That all aboard the Lime Juice Ship’s according to the Act.

They’ve done away with coffin ships, and that’s a danger past.
It’s time enough they gave a thought to Jack before the mast.
He knows that winds and weather must somehow be endured,
But Jack could heave a rope, if things could easily be cured.

Now sometimes it’s all well enough, but other times its hard
To be hauling out to leeward with two hands upon the yard.
You set two hands to steer the wheel; that leaves the watch with four,
About enough to navigate a barge around the Nore.

The Chorus, as I have heard it, runs:—

Then shout, boys, Hurrah! For you know it is a fact
There’s nothing done in a lime-juice ship contrary to the Act.
Then what’s the use of growling when you know you get your whack,
Exactly what you signed for, by the Merchant Shipping Act.—L. G. C. L.

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From Ibid., No. 3 (March, 1920), page 96, under the heading “Answers.”

18.—"The Merchant Shipping Act."—I think L. G. C. L. will find the song he wants in a collection of sea songs called “Shanties and Forebitters,” published by Curwen, 24, Berners Street. In this book I think the song is called “The Merchant Ship,” but am not sure as I have not a copy myself and am trusting to memory.—H. O. H.

* * *
From Adventure, Vol. 39, No. 4, (New York and London: The Ridgway Co., March 10, 1923), page 177:

Or, here’s an old rackety lime-juicer’s ditty:

"Cheer boys, hurrah, for I tell ye for a fac’,
There’s nothin’ done in a lime-juice ship contrary to the ac’,
Then wots the use o’ growlin’ wen ye know ye got yer whack
Of lime juice an’ vinegar, accordin’ to the ac’?”!