Alan Moore spun up a great tale on this lol "Not Even Legend"

"Mutiny or no, Romaine with a knife can pick any of us and slit our throats," the white man said. "For no reason."

"She would have a reason," Denmark said. "

On a pirate ship, the seaman is paid one coin for every two taken by the captain. Captain Mai here has made a study of this - the more lopsided the ratio of captain's pay to the ordinary seaman's, the more likely a mutiny."

"No mutiny here," Captain Mai said. "We pay like pirates."

"Yet there is constant threat of mutinies on merchant ships," Denmark continued.

The passengers fell quiet mesmerized by his voice.

"I will tell you. On a merchant ship, the seaman's pay is one coin to the captains fifty...