12 Ninth Annual Report op the 



same territory in selling goods a second time. Thus it becomes 

 a game of hide-and-seek as it were, between this class of per- 

 petrators and our agents, but they have been unable to dispose 

 of any quantity of goods within the State during this year, 

 our vigilance having been such as to prevent them. I am of the 

 opinion that if the profit was not so large upon the commodity 

 as to be a great temptation it would cease altogether. If the 

 bill now pending in Congress, known as the Grout bill — that 

 proposes to tax colored oleomargarine 10 cents per pound — be- 

 comes a law and is enforced, I am of the opinion that a great 

 deal of this temptation will be removed. 



While there is very little oleomargarine sold in this State, 

 there is a great deal sold in other States. The report of the 

 Internal Revenue Commissioner of the United States shows that 

 oleomargarine manufactured and sold in the United States an- 

 nually during the last fifteen years was as follows: 



Pounds. 



1887 21,513,537 



1888 31,325,527 



1889 35,664,026 



1890 32,324,032 



1891 44,392,409 



1892 48,364,155 



1893 67.224,298 



1894 69,622,246 



1895 56,958,105 



1896 50,853,234 



1897 • 45.531,207 



1898 57,516,136 



1899 83,130,474 



1900 107,045,028 



1901 104,943,856 



The above figures show that in the aggregate during the 

 years 1888 to 1901, inclusive, the whole amount manufactured 



