in many places slaves were allowed (by their owners) to sell produce and
small farm animals (pigs, chickens) they raised themselves or fish that
they caught.  Masters also sometimes gave slaves money for extra tasks
-- masters understood the notion of incentives.  But, none of this
affected the reality that the slaves -- and everything they owned and
earned -- ultimately belonged to the master.

Paul Finkelman
President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law
     and Public Policy
Albany Law School
80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York   12208-3494

518-445-3386 
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I do not have a reference, but I remember being told during a visit  
to Williamsburg a few years ago that slaves provided many of the eggs  
and vegetables eaten in the town. And were paid for them. In the iron  
industry it was common at least in the mid 1800s for skilled slaves  
(as at Buffalo Forge or Tredegar) to be assigned a quota. After they  
fulfilled this quota they were paid at the same piece rate as the  
White employees.

James Brothers, RPA
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