Note 106 — Chapter IX · WONDERFUL SEAL ISLANDS. (continued 2)
Reading edition
37 first-class shares, at $451 22 each.
23 second-class shares, at 406 08 each.
4 third-class shares, at 360 97 each.
10 fourth-class shares, at 315 85 each.
These shares do not represent more than fifty-six able-bodied men.
In August, 1873, while on St. George Island, I was present at a similar division, under similar circumstances, which caused them to divide among themselves the proceeds of their work in taking and skinning twenty-five thousand seals, at forty cents a skin, $10,000. They made the following subdivision:
Per share.
17 shares each, 961 skins $384 40
2 shares each, 935 skins 374 00
3 shares each, 821 skins 328 40
1 share each, 820 skins 328 00
3 shares each, 770 skins 308 00
3 shares each, 400 skins 160 00
These twenty-nine shares referred to, as stated above, represent only twenty-five able-bodied men; two of them were women. This method of division as above given is the result of their own choice. It is an impossible thing for the company to decide their relative merits as workmen on the ground, so they have wisely turned its entire discussion over to them. Whatever they do they must agree to—whatever the company might do they possibly and probably would never clearly understand, and hence dissatisfaction and suspicion would inevitably arise. As it is, the whole subject is most satisfactorily settled.