80 VIKINGS OF TO-DAY 



for their cargo throughout. To prevent this the 

 various firms agreed at one time not to buy fish 

 from another merchant's planters. But this fell 

 through, and now only a careful watch is kept on 

 how much fish each man has as the season pro- 

 gresses, and the amount compared with what he de- 

 livers to his merchant. Any man caught alienating 

 much fish would not receive any advance in future, 

 though most firms are anxious to get all the men 

 they can. 



The advances are made in May or early June. 

 When the fish has been put on board the vessels for 

 market in October, notes of credit are sent to the 

 merchants thus: 



Received from , qlts. ... qrs. ... Ibs. of 



Labrador fish. 



To Messrs , qlts. ... qrs. ... Ibs. of 



Merchantable fish. 

 Per Agent 



Then, as soon as the total catch can be roughly 

 estimated, the Chamber of Commerce meet in St. 

 Johns and decide what price they will give for fish. 

 The credit notes are at once cashable at that price, 

 cargoes being all insured. Each firm then credits 

 its planters and men with their catch at that price, 

 and a balance is struck between the total and the 

 amount of each one's advance in May. If a surplus 

 remains, it goes to provide the fisherman with his 

 winter's diet. Now a good catch for a fisherman is 

 100 quintals of dry fish, or 300 quintals of green. On 



