|
bill n Cp OED ~ sb3 9 b 'promissory note' obs (1613-1721).
1 The wages, or share of profit, of a fishing or sealing
voyage paid to men after the deduction of expenses.
[1765] 1954
INNIS 153 The trusting the fishermen with such quantitys of strong liquors is very
prejudicial to the fishery, and that [is] greatly owing to the masters themselves, for
they consider that the more the servant spends in liquor, by which he [the master] gains
one half by the profit he makes, he lessens the bills the servants would otherwise
receive. 1887 Colonist Christmas No 6 1 went to kill seals and make a bill...
Well, I went to Tickle Harbor, fished out of there for three years, made good wages, went
to the Ice and made good bills. 1909 BROWNE 178 Enormous 'bills' were made by sealers in
these days, and I have often heard old fishermen tell of the years they 'made a hundred
pound' ($400.00) ... and nowadays a 'bill' of eighty dollars is regarded as something
phenomenal. 1924 ENGLAND 145 If he didn't get the young fat, he'd go after de ole an'
make a fine bill. 1936 SMITH 104 Owing to the old seals being less commercial value than
the young, we made small 'bills,' about $30.00 per man. 1957 Evening Telegram 13
Aug, p. 4 Captain De Laney, hearing of the fine 'bill' his lost men had made, began to
think that they only got their rights. [1894-1929] 1960 BURKE (ed White) 29 "Full Loads
to the Sealers": Success to you sons of bold Neptune, / May good luck attend you this
spring / When bound up for home and you loaded, / On the barricade gaily will sing. /
With a bill for your wife or sweetheart, / And for your success we all pray, / And the
fair maid take for a partner, / The true love you left in the Bay.
2 Total profit of a sealing voyage.
1894 CHAFE 6 The largest bill ever made at the steam seal-fishery,
was that made by the crew of the s.s. Retriever. 1924 ENGLAND 48 As for the boys
[stowaways], they are never allowed on the ice to kill seals; for should they kill, they
might claim a share of the ship's 'bill.'
Go Back
|
