Field slaves had an extremely difficult life, working from dawn to dusk picking a minimum of 200 pounds of cotton per week. They were subject to beatings if they did not work hard or meet quotas. House slaves had better conditions and prepared meals, cleaned, and cared for children. All slaves typically received few clothes, often just 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants, and ate a meager diet of foods like cornmeal and salted herring. Their lives were tightly controlled and punishments were used if slaves disobeyed.