Canal families at work

TAKING A TURN AT THE TILLER

If there were enough family members to operate a canal boat, the captain would not need to hire any crew. A minimum of three was usually necessary to run a boat, with one person at the tiller, one on the towpath walking with the mules, and one doing the many other things necessary on the boat such as preparing meals and caring for the mules before and after their six-hour “tricks” on the towpath.