- description
- The Ship's Articles are the formal document where the terms of engagement, including the specific 'lays' for crew members, would be settled.
- source_text
- drawing forth the ship’s articles, placed pen and ink before him, and seated himself at a little table. I began to think it was high time to settle with myself at what terms I would be willing to engage for the voyage. I was already aware that in the whaling business they paid no wages; but all hands, including the captain, received certain shares of the profits called _lays_