MARKETING TOBACCO. 275 



the tobacco pays through his commission merchant, or 

 directly, a sampling fee of 75 cents, which includes 

 cooperage and nails, making an expense of $1 on each 

 hogshead of 500 pounds net, to any weight merchant- 

 able up to 2200 pounds, and over. Insurance is at the 

 risk of owner, unless otherwise stipulated. The fee of the 

 tobacco auctioneer ranges from 12 to 25 cents per sample 

 sold, and is paid by the seller. Auctioneers of loose to- 

 bacco are paid arbitrary fees and salary by warehouse- 

 men, while the warehouses themselves charge graded 

 prices to the planter by the pile. Commission mer- 

 chants' fees for selling tobacco loose, or in hogsheads, are 

 two and one-half per cent on gross sales, one-half per 

 cent tax, one-half per cent insurance, beside freight, 

 grading and inspection, if same has been previously paid 

 out ; also auction fees if the sample is put up at auction. 

 Marketing and Selling. If sound leaf tobacco, 

 well assorted and in good keeping order, the sample is 

 marked A, for Admitted. All lugs, trash and tobacco 

 in bad keeping condition is marked E, for Eefused. 

 Damaged tobacco is Insecure. Casks in poor condition 

 are replaced at the cost of the owner. If hogsheads are 

 fraudulently packed, with intention to deceive, the in- 

 spectors are required to give information to the grand 

 jury when called upon. False packing is an indictable 

 offense in most of the heavy-tobacco-growing states. The 

 samples are placed on top of the hogshead from which 

 they are drawn. During the sale (Fig. 78), the auctioneer 

 stands near the hogshead which he is selling, and every 

 buyer may see the condition of the tobacco. Bids are 

 taken at auctions at an advance of 10 cents per 100 

 pounds up to $6 ; after this price is reached, 25 cents 

 is the minimum bid recognized up to $25, when 50 

 cents increase per 100 pounds is the lowest bid taken. 

 After being sold, the cask is replaced over the uncovered 

 tobacco, coopered and weighed. Planters have the au- 



