3668. Have they pass-books at the shop?-Some of them have pass-books, and some have not.
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3669. I suppose that in the name of each fisherman, there is an account in the books kept at the shop?-Every fisherman has a page for himself.
3670. In it all the goods furnished to him or to his family are entered on the one side?-Yes.
3671. Is there a credit side to the account?-Yes. When we settle with him, we give him credit for his share of the fishing.
3672. Is there a separate fishing-book?-There is a book kept by the fish factor, in which he enters the fish as he receives them.
3673. He is a separate man from the shopman?-Yes; he keeps a separate book, in which the green fish as they are received are entered in name of the company or crew.
3674. Is a bargain made with the fishermen at the beginning of the year?-Sometimes, but not often. Where there is no bargain made with them, the general understanding is, that the men get what supplies they require, and that they get also the current price of the season for their fish.
3675. That is the current price at the end of the season?-Yes.
3676. Are they entitled to one-half of the take?-Not in this case. They get the whole of their take. It is a different agreement altogether from that which obtains in the case of the smacks that prosecute the cod fishing at Faroe. In this case the boat and lines belong to the men themselves, and the whole of their catch belongs to them. At the end of the season their catch is added up and divided, and, after any company expenses are taken off, the rest is divided among the men.