646 THE HISPANIC AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW 



Biscuit 24 . ounces 



Water 4.5 pints 



Bocallao, or Poor-Jack 8.0 ounces 



Beans and Peas 2.0 ounces 



Oil 1.5 ounces 



Vinegar 0. 15 pint 



Wine 0.75 pint 



This was the ration for four days in the week. The other three, 

 instead of fish, beans and peas, eight ounces of bacon, an ounce 

 and a half of rice, and a small portion of cheese was substituted. 76 

 When rations were cut, sailors were entitled to an indemnifi- 

 cation called "pinch gut money". In order to avoid the payment 

 of this, if possible, the Casa de Contratacion, or India House of 

 Trade, issued this precautionary order: 



, . . that provisions be not shortened without evident necessity, 

 because it has happened that a great quantity of Provisions has by 

 these means, been brought into Port, where the Bisket is sold for the 

 fifth part of its value, which is a very great loss. 77 



Until late in the sixteenth century at least, sailors were hired 

 on shares. The owner of the ship and the sailors each chose a 

 representative to make the settlement at the end of the voyage. 

 The amount of the freight was computed. Then they deducted 

 the amount paid for the convoy service, and two and one-half 

 per cent for distribution as a bounty among sailors and grummets 

 who had rendered extraordinary service. Of the remainder, two 

 thirds went to the owner. The remaining third was apportioned 

 among the crew on the basis of a whole share to each able bodied 

 seaman, two thirds of a share to each grummet, and a fourth 

 to each boy. 78 



Later, sailors shipped for agreed wages, but seem still to have 

 been allowed to carry a limited amount of goods as a private 

 investment. To each mariner was alloted thirty-four jars of 

 wine as his share, and to each grummet ten jars. 79 



76 Stevens, pp. 206, 207. 



77 Ibid., p. 174. 

 Ibid., pp.222, 223. 



7 Recopilacidn, Titulo XXI, Libro IX, Ley XIII. 



