DCHP-1 Online
shipping paper Nfld, Hist. 
See quote.
- 1964 In mid-18th century, the custom became a legal requirement in Newfoundland for fishing masters, merchants and planters, when employing immigrant servants (whether "youngsters" or experienced fishermen) all generically "servants," to have a written employment agreement executed to reserve return passage money from the wages. The agreement was called a shipping paper and it came to be used for native Newfoundlanders as well.
- 1964 In mid-18th century, the custom became a legal requirement in Newfoundland for fishing masters, merchants and planters, when employing immigrant servants (whether "youngsters" or experienced fishermen) all generically "servants," to have a written employment agreement executed to reserve return passage money from the wages. The agreement was called a shipping paper and it came to be used for native Newfoundlanders as well.