134 The Soverane Her be 



most sins are committed, and such are the result of 

 accident rather than of deliberate purpose to defraud 

 the public. The smoker who buys packet-tobacco of 

 eminent firms need have little fear of being fumed 

 with any of the nauseous ingredients enumerated above. 



For the manufacture of tobacco an annual license 

 at the rate of £$ 5s. per 20,000 pounds is required. 

 Though the price of tobacco in bond varies from 

 3d. to 1 8s. per pound (the latter for cigars), the 

 duty is 3s. or 3 s. 2d., according to moisture, on all 

 leaf. On tobacco for manufacture into common shag 

 or into rare cigars the duty is the same. 



A sidelight may be thrown on the prime cost of 

 tobaccos. Take first the case of common shag, re- 

 tailed at 3d. per ounce. Leaf for this costs /d. per 

 pound, and contains 15 to 16 per cent, of inherent 

 moisture. Duty adds 3s. But the manufacturer, 

 adding 20 per cent, of water, reduces the net cost to 

 2s. lod. per pound, which is sold across the counter 

 at 4s. This is made up of: Duty, 2s. 5d. (calculating 

 addition of moisture and so reduction of dutiable 

 tobacco) ; leaf (bone dry), 6d. ; water (30 per cent.), 

 3d.; manufacture, 3d. ; factor's and retailer's profits, 7d. 

 — total, 4s. 



Tobaccos sold at 4d. per ounce are cut from leaf 

 costing lod. per pound, and containing 14 to 15 per 

 cent, natural moisture. Duty adds 3s. Water is 

 added to 25 per cent., and the prime cost reduced to 

 3s. 4d. per pound, to be sold for 5s. 4d. This com- 

 prises : Duty (estimated as before), 2s. /d. ; leaf 

 (bone dry), 9d.; water, 3d. ; manufacture, 4d. ; profits, 

 IS. 5d. — total, 5s. 4d. 



