AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2885 



show the result of running her as distinct from the rest of the busi- 

 ness? A. Yes. 



Q. Then you know whether your vessels, as such, make money or 

 not? A. Yes. 



Q. How is this? A. Our own vessels up to this last year have gen- 

 erally paid. 



Q. Do you mean up to 1877 f A. Up to 1877; yes. In 1876 they 

 paid, though not very much, but up to that time they have paid as ves- 

 sels. 



Q. What has been about the percentage on the average? A. Some- 

 times they have paid very largely. I hardly know how to answer that 

 question, but some years I know they have paid 25 per cent. 



Q. What was that doing ? A. That was during the years of the war. 



Q. In what business? A. They were employed in different branches 

 of the business cod-fishing and rnackereling. 



Q. You have imported salt very largely ? A. We were for many years 

 the only salt dealers there, and we have imported salt for 20 years. 



< v >. That has been a very large part of your business? A. Well, no, 

 not a large part, but we have done the larger part of the salt business 

 there. We have sold on the average perhaps 600,000 or 800,000 bushels 

 a year. 



Q. Have you obtained the prices of salt for a series of years? A. I 

 have, since 1860. 



Q. Will you give them? A. In 1860, the average price was $2 -a 

 hogshead. 



Q. What prices are these? A. Those at which we sell. 



Q. To anybody that comes for a barrel? A. No; but wholesale. In 

 1860, the average price was $2 a hogshead, measuring 8 bushels; we 

 never weigh it, but we measure it. In 1861 and 1862, the price was also 

 about $2 a hogshead ; in 1863, it was 82.25; 1864, $3; 1865, $6.50; 1866, 

 84.25; 1867, $4; 1868, $3 ; 1869, $2; 1870, $2|; 1871, $2|; 1872, 

 '$2.25; 1873, $2^; 1874, $2.25; 1875, $2 ; 1876, $1.75; and 1877, $lf; 

 making an average price of $2.76, for these 18 years, for a hogshead of 

 8 measured bushels; that is, in American currency. 



By Mr. Davies : 



Q. Including the duty? A. There is no duty on it; it is in bond. 

 During the years from 1860 to 1866 the prices include the duty, which 

 I think was taken off in 1866 but this did not go into operation until 

 1867, though we had the privilege of procuring our salt on board of the 

 vessels in bond, while salt obtained on shore was charged the duty. 

 By Mr. Foster : 



Q. During the last two years, the price of salt has been very low? 

 A. Yes; it is low now. 



Q. Your firm have been large buyers of fish ? A. Yes. 



Q. It has been the larger part of your business buying fish from 

 vessels ? A. We have bought more than we caught. 



Q. Do you buy mackerel ? A. Yes. 



Q. Describe how you buy them on the American coast when a vessel 

 comes in with a trip? A. We go to the wharf and buy the fish as the 

 trip runs, paying different prices for the different numbers. 



Q. Is there competition in this respect between the different firms ? 

 A. There is between the different buyers ; the competition generally 

 comes from outside firms. The firms which have vessels generally pack 

 their mackerel. 



Q. This is after packing? A. No; not always. It depends on the 



