Early Days on Nantucket 53 



the crew. At first, as noted, the owners were the 

 crews, save only as the Indians were hired. When 

 some had accumulated capital, they hired white 

 men as well as Indians. But instead of paying 

 monthly wages, as was done on vessels in the cargo- 

 carrying trade, the owners took the sailors into a 

 form of partnership by assigning to each a share 

 of the expected catch, this share being called a 

 "lay." The lay was large or small, according to 

 the skill and strength of each man employed. 



The "lay" system of paying will be described 

 more particularly in another place; but it is to be 

 noted here that even after common ownership of 

 boats and gear had been replaced by private 

 ownership, men who had not invested a penny 

 or a day's labor in either boat or ship or gear 

 were yet made partners in the cruise for whales; 

 they received a share of the catch in proportion 

 to their skill and efficiency. Even the apprentice 

 who helped the cook prepare the meals had his 

 "lay." Where European whalers of those days 

 sharpened the eyes of the men on lookout by an 

 application of the "cat," every member of the 

 Nantucket crew felt the dignity and responsibility 

 of an owner. 



