on shares

phrase, working, esp. on a farm or fishing boat, under a profit-sharing arrangement rather than for wages; (sometimes more generally) working under any kind of sharecropping system (“share, n.2.” OED); see also sharecrop, share-farm

“He worked from when he first was married. He worked the Smith farm on shares.”

“When he come back, why Grampa offered him if he’d work the farm on shares. And that’s what happened, eh. He stayed home and worked there.”

“The hay we done baling with Smith on shares. He used the baler, and we done all the work.”

“Silver Springs [Cheese Factory] was on shares.”
“It was owned by the co-op sort of thing.”