2614 AWARD OF THE FIS&ERY COMMISSION. 



Q. And the owner then becomes responsible ! A. Yes. 



Q. Then after the voyage is up what clothing he has had is charged 

 on his private account ? A. Yes. 



Q. Now, what does the owner get for the risk ! He takes the risk of 

 the life of the man and also of the catch not amounting to enough. 

 What profit does he get for that ? A. He gets a profit owing to the 

 competition among the clothes-dealers. They allow a certain percent- 

 age to the owner of the vessel for giving these orders. 



Q. How much is that ? Is it based on the wholesale prices or as the 

 bargain maybe made? A. It is based principally on the wholesale 

 prices. They sell to the outfitter at the wholesale prices and charge the 

 goods to the men at the retail prices at the store. 



Q. The man knows what he will be charged on the outfitter's books ? 

 A. Yes. 



Q. Now, would it be possible for those who have neither credit nor 

 cash to do any better than that? A. I thi-uk not. 



Q. 1 suppose if they went without any credit or cash, or any one to 

 become responsible in this way, they would hardly make a purchase at 

 all ? A. I think not. The risk is too great. As a general thing the 

 storekeeper would rather have the order of the owner. 



Q. Now, in case any of the crew thinks anything is going wrong, and 

 does not get satisfaction, are there not plenty of lawyers ready to take 

 up their cases ? A. It is to be assumed there are. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. I did not understand him to answer the question as to the outfit- 

 ter's profit on the stores furnished on his credit? The seaman gets his 

 bill, with the rate put on the account to show him what he buys at ? A. 

 Yes. 



Q. That is what you call the retail rate. He can go from place to 

 place ? A. Yes. 



Q. Now, having got his bill at the retail rate, it is given to him on the 

 understanding that before he gets the clothes the bill must be indorsed ? 

 A. He goes to the owner and says : u Here, I am going in your vessel 

 and have no clothes. Give me an order on such and such a firm to get 

 a suit of clothes or oiled clothes." He takes that order and goes up. 

 He knows what the clothes are worth, and will not pay extravagant 

 prices. 



Q. Now the question is what the outfitter gets as compensation for the 

 risk ? A. He gets a profit out of the manufacturer, or rather the whole- 

 sale dealer. If he gives an order on Carter, a manufacturer of oiled 

 clothes, Carter will sell them at the wholesale prices and charge them 

 on the account at the retail prices to the man. 



Q. What is the percentage? A. I could not form any accurate esti- 

 mate. 



Q. As nearly as you can say ? A. Some will pay more than others. 

 I don't think the average is more than 8 per cent., perhaps 10. 



By Mr. Dana : 



Q. What would the articles be that the men would buy at the <li fit-r- 

 ent stores! A. Clothing. Tobacco they would get at the outfitter'^ 

 store. 



Q. The outfitter has tobacco? A. Yes. 



Q. Do they buy anything but clothing in this way ? A. I think not. 

 They only buy what they actually need to fit them out to go on board 

 the vessel. 



