The Age of Slaves at Menarche and Their First Birth

have been leveled at both the methodology and the interpretation of Fogel and Engerman. In this paper we analyze the biases inherent in their methodological procedure, propose a new method of estimation that avoids these biases, and comment on the substantive issue of whether reproductive behavior was substantially manipulated. We consider only the extent of a particular type of manipulation that is admittedly defined in a very narrow way. Beyond question, some slaveowners did manipulate the fertility of their slaves.2 Undoubtedly such manipulation was psychologically and