AND USE IN UNITED STATES. 33 



Q. I understand that it is grown now principally 

 for seed, except in New York State. 



A. They do that, but they cannot afford to raise 

 the flax, and prepare it for market, because there is no 

 money in it. 



Q. And it is not now raised for market, except in 

 New York State? 



A. But a duty might help to do that. 



Q. That is exactly what I wanted to get at. 

 Now, can you tell me about how much capital is in- 

 vested in New York State in the production of the 

 fibre, exclusive of the seed for oil ? 



A. I do not know that I could answer that, except 

 by saying that within the past year (1881) I have han- 

 dled between four and five hundred thousand pounds 

 of dressed flax. 



Q. And that flax was produced in the State of 

 New York? 



A. Yes, sir ; produced in the State of New York. 



Q. What is the value of that flax? 



A. Perhaps that amount would be worth $60,000. 



Q. And the capital invested in producing that 

 amount of material is how much ? 



A. I could not say. The farmer sows it, and 

 then it goes to market, and he gets what he can out 

 of it 



Q. But there are not firms exclusively devoted to 

 this industry? 



A. No, sir. 



