266 COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



value of which he inquired liave been built within recent 

 years : 



812 Schoonera. 



1863, and previously 2 



1868 1 



1869 1 



1872 1 



1875 1 



1877 3 



1882 1 



1883 4 



1884 4 



1885 2 



1886 5 



1887 1 



1888 5 



1889 4 



1890 1 



1891 9 



THE SCHOONERS USELESS FOR OTHER TRADES. 



That vessels engaged in sealing are specially constructed 

 for the pursuit in which they are employed, nud are una- 

 vailable for any other, is shown by the following extract 

 fiom the affidavit of Richard Hall, Secretary of the Vic- 

 toria Sealers' Association: 



Appendix, vol. There is no coast trade they can engage in, and deep-sea fishing is 

 ii, p. 222. so far a failure owing to the great distance from markets and great 



cost of transportation. That if the sealing business were stopped 

 from any cause, the entire fleet now engaged iu tiiat pursuit would 

 be practically valuoloss. It would cost more to take any one of the 

 fleet to the North Atlantic coast than such schooner would be worth 

 •when there. 



This is confirmed by the Keport of the British Oommis- 

 Biouers, who write: 



British C m - -pj^g sealing-vessels are seldom used in or fitted for other employ- 

 po^'paraf 106.*' in^ut, and nearly all of them remain laid np iu harbour between the 

 dates of the closing and opening of the sealing season. 



THE SCHOONER-OWNERS. 



TJnited States Commenting upon the persons owning the schooners, the 

 Case, p. 285. United States Case states that they are as varied in their 

 occupations as the purchasers of lottery tickets; and the 

 same spirit which induces i)ersous to risk their money in 

 the latter has persuaded them to take their chance iu the 

 sealing business. 



The facts show that the persons owning the schooners 

 are what one would expect them to be, viz., persons who 

 would otherwise invest their money in coast shipping, and 

 on this point Mr. Gleadowe states : 



Appendix, vol. Some of them were old sailors, who have invested their money in a 

 li, p. 21)5. schooner and sail with her themselves, but the majority are 



313 men engaged iu trade who have fitted out schooners as they 

 would invest their money in any other speculation. 



It is submitted that the owners of schooners will bear 

 comparison with the shareholders composing the oS^orth 

 American Commercial Company, or any other mercantile 

 undertaking. 



