BP Prepares to Pay! Fishermen Haven't Kept Records!

In preparation for and in anticipation of paying fishermen whose livelihoods may have been harmed by the oil spill, BP has asked for tax records to help them assess claims.

The only problem: some of these fishermen have not kept records for generations. Some of them often get/got paid in cash and have never reported the income. Hmmm.

"I worked for an uncle last year who paid me in cash," said a crab fisherman who asked to remain anonymous. "The BP guy wanted my tax statements, but how can I pay taxes if everything I earned was in cash?"

How can I pay taxes if everything I earned was in cash? Hmmm.

I can't make this stuff up.

Apparently some of these "companies" haven't even been able to produce a business license, permit, or other evidence of a legitimate business. I suppose BP could ask, "How can we reimburse you for damages if you don't know how much you made last year?" This is going to get real interesting, real fast.

By the way, two years ago I had a conversation with a fresh fish broker in Charleston, South Carolina. He said the same thing. Much of the seafood business is done in cash.