REPORT OF SPECIAL AGENT HENRY. 247 



As to the matter of "coast trading" during the months of October, 

 November, December, and January, I have conversed 

 with Captains McLain, Morrison, Pinckney, Sieward, pr 3$fi? trade " n " 

 McDonald, and several others, and they each and all 

 said that " there is nothing in it and it would not pay to fit out for it," 

 and cited me to the fact that if it would pay there would be plenty of 

 the vessels engaged in it, instead of laying in the harbor here during 

 those months. 



Carnie & Munsie, Captains Grant, Sieward, and others in Victoria 

 are engaged in or interested in the mercantile business and own several 

 schooners each, so that they are in the best possible position to engage 

 in the "coast trade" and make it profitable, if anyone could, and they 

 would certainly do so if there was any profit in it. As it is, not one of 

 the sealing fleet goes into that business during the winter. There are 

 at this time about fifty-five (55) sealing schooners in Victoria harbor 

 laying idle. This fact alone is conclusive evidence as to the profitable- 

 ness of the "coast trading business." 



William Turpel^esq., who is the proprietor of the Central Ship Yards 

 at Victoria, and also owner of the sealing schooner 

 Sadie Turpel, stated to me that his provision bill for 

 23 men for an eight months' cruise was $1,500, and about $400 worth 

 of the provisions were brought back. He also stated 

 that he estimated the difference of building a schooner 

 for steam auxiliary would cost about $200 more for x ia cos or 8 eam ' 

 the carpenter work. 



H. E. Foot & Co., who are builders of yachts, boats, and canoes, 

 stated that they would build a schooner for me at the 

 rate of $75 per ton gross tonnage. Mr. Foot is now Cost of schooner, 

 building a steam schooner of 16 tons capacity, the 

 price of which he stated to be $2,000 all complete, with compound 

 engines, boiler, and surface condenser. He further stated that he 

 would advise me not to build a schooner supplied with 

 auxiliary steam power, as such vessels so far have Auxiliary steam 

 failed to prove satisfactory or successful on account leou?. uot advanta ' 

 of their not being able to carry proper sails, so as to 

 be good sailing vessels, and have not sufficient steam capacity to use 

 steam altogether. 



E. W. Calvin, esq., proprietor of the Clyde Ship Yards, stated to me 

 that he would build sealing boats at the following 

 prices : Copper-nail boats, $110 each 5 galvanized boats, Coat of boats - 

 $98 each, all outfitted with oars, sail, etc.; and he 

 further stated to me that he would advise the use of the galvanized- 

 nail boats, as he considered them better, and that the majority of the 

 boats in use by the fleet were galvanized nailed. 



Mr. Munsie, of the firm of Carne & Munsie, already mentioned, 

 stated that the cost of a stock of provisions for a crew 

 of 23 to 25 for a cruise of 7 to 8 months would be cost of provisions. 

 $1,400 to $1,500. This is exclusive of the ammunition 

 required. 



Martin Kelly, a dealer in stoves and tinware at Victoria, informed 

 me that he was having a steam schooner for sealing, 

 purposes constructed by Clark & Watson, of Victoria, schooner. ° 8 eam 

 the description of which he gave as follows: Length 

 over all, 75 feet; beam. 14 feet; depth of hold, 7 feet; capacity, about 

 70 tons. To be supplied with a folding propeller and the best ma- 

 chinery, with power to speed her fully 11 knots per hour, the contract 

 price for such vessel being $10,000. 



