straighten v Cp EDD ~ v 2 'to settle accounts'; NID v b. In the mostly non-cash, or 'truck,' system of the Newfoundland fishery, to total the credits and debits of a fisherman's account as kept by the supplying merchant; usu with up, out; SQUARE UP.
1924 ENGLAND 257 Once the men 'fall back,' they are sometimes never again able to 'put up money' or to 'straighten up,' i.e., pay their bills. 1936 SMITH 27 Before going to St John's all hands got straightened up and we made $175.00, which was considered fairly good. 1937 DEVINE 49 A fisherman was 'straightened out'—to use his own words—when he got his account from the supplying merchant and was paid the balance due him. C 70-12 It was the custom for the fishermen to straighten up in the fall of the year. This meant that they sold their summer catch to the merchant who had supplied them during the summer, the merchant gave the fisherman whatever he saw fit for the fish and often charged him the highest prices. At this time of year men would put in for supplies for the winter. One always fixed up his account in October. M 71-95 When the fishing season was over the men had to straighten up, which was to pay the fish merchant or other supplier the amount owed him for the goods he had been buying since May 'on account' and to get the balance of his fish money.
