AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2637 



Q. Have you thought over since yesterday the question that was 

 asked you, as to the profits they charge on supplies furnished .to the 

 families of the fishermen ? A. I have not given it a thought since yes- 

 terday. 



Q. Perhaps you did not give it much thought before yesterday ? A. 

 I only gave it from my knowledge of the business. 



Q. What would you be prepared to say to-day is the profit they make 

 on supplies furnished to the families of fishermen ? A. About ten per 

 cent. 



Q. Not more than that ? A. It would not be over that. 



Q. You know that sometimes they lose the supplies ? A. I know 

 they do. 



Q. And don't they make sufficient profit to cover all that ? A. I don't 

 think they do. 



Q. You think they are not shrewd enough men to make the charge 

 sufficient to insure them against loss ? A. They might. 



Q. You don't know exactly. Have you examined their books and 

 prices so as to be enabled to testify accurately ont hat point ? A. Noj 

 I have not. 



Q. You volunteer what you assume is correct ? A. I give it from my 

 recollection of my business in 1861 and 1862. 



Q. I understand they agree with wholesale dealers, to have the goods 

 furnished at wholesale prices, and the fishermen are charged the retail 

 prices? A. Yes. 



Q. The difference between the wholesale price and retail price you 

 don't know ! A. I don't know. 



Q. The difference is the profit which the merchant makes ? A. Yes, 

 and takes the risk. 



Q. You were town clerk of Gloucester for sotue time, and are ac- 

 quainted, of course, with the valuations,, more or less, of the different 

 merchants ? A. Yes. 



Q. You spoke of two or three names as being leading men ? A. Yes. 



Q. What are those men assessed at ? A. 1 could not tell ; I don't 

 recollect. As town clerk I would not know. 



Q. You seem to have filled numerous offices, and, no doubt, filled 

 them efficiently ? A. The assessors assess for taxes and keep their own 

 books. 



, Q. From the knowledge you have gained in looking over the assess- 

 ors' book, cannot you state what a man like Mr. Leighton is taxed for ? 

 A. I guess he is taxed at 



Q. Take Mr. Leighton's firm. A. I suppose it is assessed at $30,000. 



Q. What is that on ! A. That is on the valuation of his real estate 

 and vessels. 



Q. How does that compare with its value ? A. In Gloucester they 

 tax at a little over three-fourths of the value. 



Q. Of its cash value or ordinary market value ? A. Of the ordinary 

 market value, as it is considered. If you force such a property as Mr. 

 Leightou's to a sale, it would not bring anything like its value. 



Q. What other leading men did you mention ? A. Dennis & Ayer. 



Q. About what would be tljeir valuation ? A. I don't know. 



Q. Take Mr. Steele ; what would his firm be taxed at ? A. Mr. Steele 

 is probably taxed at $20,000. 



Q. Would you put the four leading men in Gloucester down as worth 

 from $20,000 to $30,000 each ? A. I don't think anybody in the fishing 

 business in Gloucester is worth over $30,000. 



Q. What are they assessed at ? A. I don't know. I have not seen 



