THE NAVAL STORES INDUSTRY. 



15 



during the winter months. The work is performed by a squad of 

 six or seven negroes under an experienced overseer, who tallies the 

 boxes. The cutting is done by piecework, and each negro has a num- 

 ber which he caUs as soon as he has finished a box. The tool used is 

 an ax with a long narrow blade. An experienced man will cut a box 



FIG. 3. Operations in cutting a "box." 



1. First step in cutting box. Gashing tree. 



2. Finished box. Front view. 



3. Finished box. Side view. 



4. Cornered box. 



5. First streak. 



with surprising neatness in from four to eight minutes. The dimen- 

 sions of the box vary somewhat with the size of the tree. Usually 

 a box is 12 to 14 inches wide, 7 inches deep, 3J to 4 inches from front 

 to back, and holds about 3 pints. Shaped like a distended pocket, 

 it is cut into the base of the tree 8 to 12 inches above the ground, 



