Once a prize twas taken, it was good to be a pirate. Often this meant, as well as any money or goods they got, there would be more than enough food t' last them. And, more than enough drink.
If havin' booze on a ship sound a bit odd, ye must remember that water goes stagnant right fast when left t' sit. Alcohol, on th' other hand, lasts much longer. As such, ships often kept liquor an' mixed it wit' water to add some longevity t' th' latter. In particular, th' sugar plantations about th' Caribbean made rum cheap an' readily available. An' then there was th' captain's stock, which is where ye'd find th' real good stuff, a favored perk for th' freebooter who could normally ne'er afford it.
Anyways, after a plunder, it was time fer celebration; there'd be extra food, extra drink, and general merriment. But, not too much merriment, as the ship did still need to be able to function an' suchlike. When they set to shore at a port, all bets were off.
In contrast, life aboard a pirate vessel twas normally lousy. Ye tended t' have a lot o' people on th' ship t' start with. Chances are yer provisions were lousy an' yer cook even worse. Pirates often ate in th' dark, twas easier t' deal wit' th' wretched food that way. Tempers would get short, an' the ship's articles tended t' forbid fightin'. And bein' away from women didn't help neither. The crew twas usually willing to put up wit' it s'long's there were enough prizes t' keep 'em happy, or at least th' illusion of such on th' horizon. The captain's primary job was t' make sure that there were prizes, an' if not, they'd find someone who was able t' get 'em and maroon th' old captain. As well, even the best meanin' crew might well think twice about attackin' fellow countrymen after a couple months wit' no prizes.
