Throwaway

So, I work on ships have for a couple years and I have never paid taxes on what I make. When I first got on a couple guys from Canada (where I'm from too) told me how they send money back to their banks but keep most of it in cash and just bring back whatever they make at the end of their contract. My ship is not registered in Canada, I get paid in American cash at the end of every month. 

What I am wondering is if there is any way my government can find out where I am working and if they will make me pay taxes. Also if I am just ignorant to the fact that I should be paying taxes what is the easiest way for me to do so and should I claim everything I am making? 

I have friends that are in the restaurant industry as servers and other positions that get gratuities and they make about half of their salary in tips which they don't disclose (or at least fully). should I send money back via western union and not keeping it in a bank, is there any other little tricks anyone knows of on this subject?
user
paying taxes on money I make over seas on a ship, good idea
assistant
Throwaway

So, I work on ships have for a couple years and I have never paid taxes on what I make. When I first got on a couple guys from Canada (where I'm from too) told me how they send money back to their banks but keep most of it in cash and just bring back whatever they make at the end of their contract. My ship is not registered in Canada, I get paid in American cash at the end of every month. 

What I am wondering is if there is any way my government can find out where I am working and if they will make me pay taxes. Also if I am just ignorant to the fact that I should be paying taxes what is the easiest way for me to do so and should I claim everything I am making? 

I have friends that are in the restaurant industry as servers and other positions that get gratuities and they make about half of their salary in tips which they don't disclose (or at least fully). should I send money back via western union and not keeping it in a bank, is there any other little tricks anyone knows of on this subject?
user
working on a ship but on the seas, no registered address, no tax
assistant