CONSIGNEES. 97 



The proper market price would be thus presented : 



50 Baskets fine at $1.50 per basket, 675.00 



100 " good " 1.00 " 100.00 



75 " fair 75 " " 56.25 



25 " poor " 50 " " 12.50 



Total, . . . $243.75 

 200 Baskets at 75 cents . 150.00 i 



The difference is . $93.75 



Or if the consignee is very smart, and wishes to make 

 a pretense of great exactness, he will make out a detailed 

 account thus : 



50 Baskets at $1.00 . . . $50.00 



100 " "75 . 75.00 



75 50 . . . 37.50 



25 " "40 . 10.00 



Total, .... $172.50 

 Difference, . . $71.25 



This difference the dishonest consignee pockets, and 

 absolutely cheats his confiding customer out of this 

 amount in a single transaction. Others manage it differ- 

 ently. Sell for all they can and return what they please. 

 If the market is very good, and prices high, they may 

 sell a whole consignment at $1.50 per basket, and return 

 $1.25, or, if the market is, on the contrary, glutted, they 

 may sell for 75 cents, and return 65, and so on ; their 

 returns depending altogether upon their own cupidity, 

 fear of detection, or loss of patronage. We have reliable 

 information that some parties have actually made enough 

 in a single season from these swindling operations to 

 retire from business altogether. And we know one firm 

 whose business was very extensive, but whose dereliction 

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