852 APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



222 Canada, Province of British ColumMa, City of Victoria. 



I, Kichard Hall, of the city of Victoria, in the Province of 

 British Columbia, ship-owner, do solemnly declare: 



1. That I am the managing owner of the hereinafter named vessels, 

 "Geneva" and "Ocean Belle," and have in my possession all the 

 accounts, vouchers, and books of the said vessels since the purchase of 

 them as liereinafter set out. 



2. That myself and two others bought the said "Ocean Belle" at 

 Lunenburg, in the Province of Nova Scotia, in October 1889, for the sum 

 of 2,475 dollars. The actual cost of fitting out, provisioning, insuring, 

 wages, and all other charges and expenses in bringing the "Ocean 

 Belle" from Lunenburg to Victoria was 5,892 dol. 64 c, making a total 

 cost of the vessel at Victoria of 8,367 dol. 64 c. 



3. That the "Ocean Belle" was, on arrival at Victoria, thoroughly 

 refitted and repaired, and equipped for a sealing voyage, at a cost of 

 4,450 dollars. The voyage lasted six months, and cost a total of 9,556 

 dol. 69 c. for wages of master and crew, lay or share paid to the hunters, 

 insurance, and incidental charges and expenses, making a total outlay 

 of 23,074 dol. 33 c. for the vessel for the year, including her purchase 

 price. 



4. The "Ocean Belle" was built at Lunenburg in the year 1883, and 

 is 83 tons register. She has always been kept in first-class repair, and 

 is to-day a strong sound vessel, worth at current prices in Victoria for 

 sealing-vessels of her class 8,200 dollars. 



5. The "Geneva" was purchased by myself and associates at Lunen- 

 burg aforesaid, in October, A. d. 1890, for the sum of 2,900 dollars. It 

 cost an additional sum of 5,250 dol. 12 c. to bring this vessel round 

 Cape Horn to Victoria, making tlie cost at Victoria 8,150 dol. 12 c. 

 The "Geneva" was built at said Lunenburg in 1884, and is 98 tons 

 register. 



6. That after arrival at Victoria the "Geneva" was repaired, j)ut in 

 first-class order, and outfitted for a sealing voyage in 1891. This cost 

 for all purposes the sum of 4,000 dol. 63 c, making a total cost or 

 expenditure, for and upon the "Geneva" as she lay ready for her voy- 

 age, 12,750 dol. 75 c. On the completion of the voyage, the sums paid 

 for insurance, wages, lay of hunters, and incidentals amounted to 5,324 

 dol. 88 c, a total expenditure for and on account of the "Geneva" and 

 her season's sealing voyage of 18,075 dol. 63 c. 



7. The guns on both vessels were the Smith and Greener manufac- 

 tures, the former American, the latter English, and cost something over 

 50 dollars each on the average. 



8. Included in the cost of bringing the said vessels from Lunenburg 

 to Victoria is the cost of coppering, both done at Lunenburg. 



9. I am the Secretary of the Sealers Association of Victoria, and have 

 a good knowledge of the sealing business carried on from this i)ort. In 

 1892 the hunters were paid from a one-fifth lay on Victoria prices to 4 

 dollars per skin. In 1891 and 1890 the hunters were paid from a one- 

 fifth lay to 3 dol. 50 c. per skin. In 1889 hunters were paid from 2 to 3 

 dollars per skin. Previous to 1889 the general rate paid to hunters was 

 about 2i dollars per skin. The above prices were for white hunters. 

 Indian hunters are paid on a different plan. Indians hunt in canoes, 

 two men to each canoe. The general rule is to allow 4 dol. 50 c. for each 

 skin the canoe brings to the vessel. One-third of this goes to the ves- 

 sel, and the remainder goes to the canoes, or 1^ dollars to each Indian 

 employed. In addition, a bonus of 10 to 20 dollars per canoe is paid 

 by the vessel for the season, and a donation of provisions to the fami- 



