EARNINGS AND THE LAY 219 



which entered into the determination of the amount o£ money 

 which he actually received at the close of a cruise. For 

 throughout all the slowly passing months of a voyage both 

 captain and agents kept an account showing all deductions, ad- 

 vances, and credits for each member of the crew. The final 

 settlement with each man then consisted of balancing his account 

 after computing and including the amount of his lay as the 

 dominant credit factor. Normally there was a balance in his 

 favor, which was paid in cash or by means of an order on the 

 owners. But It was not uncommon for a seaman to find him- 

 self actually in debt to the agents of the vessel in which he had 

 worked for a period of two to four years ! 



In such Instances there was no settled practice j for the dis- 

 position of the matter depended upon the policy and attitude 

 of owners and agents. In those rare cases In which a man was 

 able to pay, the sum was collected. But if, as was almost uni- 

 versally true, the debtor was penniless, there were several 

 alternatives. Where the amount was small and the owners 

 generous, the debt might be cancelled; and if he was pecu- 

 liarly unfortunate, an Individual might be given a few dol- 

 lars In cash in spite of his debit balance. But most often the 

 persuasive agents and the conspiring landsharks induced the 

 hand to embark upon another voyage for the same firm. If this 

 plan proved to be successful, the amount due was carried over 

 as the first debit Item in the new account; If unsuccessful, the 

 seaman escaped without payment and the owners were forced 

 to accept the loss. 



The items on the credit side of a typical whaleman's account 

 were scanty. In truth, the only significant entry was the amount 

 of his lay. A few dollars which he had earned as a bounty for 

 sighting whales which were subsequently captured, and an oc- 

 casional order against the lay of some other member of the 

 crew — these completed the scanty list of his rights to receive 

 actual money. In addition, however, there were several other 

 things which he had obtained In kind. These included meals, 

 a bunk In the forecastle, and all necessary equipment except his 

 clothing and bedding, which he was expected to provide for 

 himself. 



In contrast to such a clean credit sheet, the debit side of the 



