at these were " illegal paper blockades", because trying to enforce these blockades over such a large area was not very practical. Another source of irritation to the United States was the English law of impressment. According to English law, a captain of a warship that was undermanned could stop an English ship on the high seas and impress or force, the needed sailors into his crew. If no English ship was sighted, an American vessel would do. Many English sailors had deserted English ships to go to work for American merchant ship owners and the American Navy because the Americans particularly, the merchant ships offered better food and pay. The life of a English navy sailor was not good. They were constantly working and the food was terrible. Meat, when available was almost always rotten and covered with mold. "Ships biscuit" a type of bread that was rock hard, was frequently covered with maggots. English sailors often ate in dark corners to avoid seeing what bugs might be on their food. American merchant ships offered 10 times the pay and although the food was not fancy it "stuck to your ribs". The English Navy responded by stopping American ships and taking sailors and forcing them into service in the ...
