AVERAGE, in commerce, signifies the accidents and misfortunes which happen to ships and their cargoes, from the time of their loading and sailing to their return and unloading; and is divided into three kinds : I The simple or particular aver age, which consists in the extraordinary expenses incurred for the ship alone, or for the merchandizes alone. Such is, the loss of anchors, masts, and rigging, occa sioned by the common accidents at sea ; the damages which happened to mer chandise by storm, prize, shipwreck, wet, or rotting ; all which must be borne and paid by the thing which suffered the damage. 2. The large and common aver age, being those expenses- incurred, and damages sustained, for the common good and security- both of the merchandises and vessels, consequently to be borne by the ship and cargo, and to be regulated upon the whole. Of this number are the goods or money given for the ransom of the ship and cargo, things thrown over-board for the safety of the ship, the expenses of unlading for entering into a river or harbour, and the provisions and hire of the sailors when the ship is put under an embargo. 3. The small aver
ages, which are the expenses for towing and piloting the ship out, off, or into harbours, creeks, or rivers, one-third of which must be charged to the ship, and two-thirds to the cargo.
Average is more particularly used for a certain contribution that merchants make proportionably towards their losses. It also signifies a small duty, which those merchants who send goods in another man's ship pay to the master for his care of them, over and above the freight. Hence it is expressed in the bills of lading, paying so much freightfor the said goods, with primage and average accustomed.