AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2615 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. In case their families require assistance, is there any custom of sup- 

 plying the families of the fishermen by the outfitters? A. Yes; by let- 

 ting them have supplies from the store and giving them cash. 



Q. Is that done upon half-pay orders, or anything of that sort ? A. 

 No ; I never had an order from a man that went for me. If his wife 

 came down I always let her have provisions. 



By Mr. Dana : 



Q. Do you think it is the custom to make advances either in cash or 

 goods? A. Yes, if they run up an account to more than the voyage 

 warrants, we check it. 



Q. At what rate are those goods charged? A. I think the average 

 would be 10 per cent. 



Q. You mean 10 per cent, on what? A. I refer to the provision sup- 

 plied to the families. I don't think they will average as much as that. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. Take, for instance, the case of a barrel of flour, or something of 

 that sort, what would the percentage be on that? A. Well, a barrel of 

 flour, when I was in the business, was $8 or $10. 



Q. Is the percentage you name on which the goods are furnished a 

 percentage over the retail prices? A. No, they could not go to the 

 grocers and get it for cash any cheaper than under this arrangement. 



Q. How is the owner enabled to do that ? You say they are furnished 

 at about the same rate for which they would get those supplies, paying 

 cash ? A. Well, perhaps for a few months past the competition in gro- 

 ceries has been so great that for cash you could purchase at any price 

 you chose, and one grocer has gone up in consequence of that sort of 

 trade. 



By Mr. Dana : 



Q. But in fair average times the owners allow the families about the 

 rate that they could buy for with cash ? A. Yes. 



Q. Where does the profit come from for the risk ? A. I do not be- 

 lieve they ever take that into consideration. 



Q. But, as a business transaction, they buy it at' wholesale ? A. 

 Yes. 



Q. Then in these cases of goods allowed to the families is there any 

 other profit than the difference between wholesale and retail ? A. No ; 

 I don't think there is, as far as my knowledge extends. I will not say 

 for all the firms in Gloucester. There have been many cases where gro- 

 ceries have been sold in this way to the families of men who have never 

 come back. 



(On the following day the witness requested leave to make an explan- 

 ation with regard to the right of one of the crew to take his share of 

 the fish in place of its money value.. The explanation is to the follow- 

 ing effect: "The mackerel of the crew are all packed. If any one of 

 the crew desires his share of fish instead of money, he can have it by 

 paying expenses, by requesting it of the agent of the schooner before 

 the trip Is sold.") 



