Average price per ton at Victoria for vessels built on the Pacific Coast and sold at San Francisco in 1886 and 1887.

a Cost per ton delivered at Victoria" is based on the sale of the vessel at San Francisco with the duty, 10 per cent, added and $250, the highest price fixed for bringing a vessel from San Francisco to Victoria.

Rebuilt.

In contrast to this evidence produced on the part of the United States which established nine sales of sealing vessels at Victoria in 1886 and 1887, and sixteen at San Francisco in the same years, and taken - in connection with the statement of counsel on behalf of Great Britain as to the value of "actual sales" as evidence of market value, is the following list of transfers at Victoria proved by witnesses produced by Great Britain, and which it is contended are of little, if any, assistance in determining the market value, being so few in number, and their dates so remote to the time when the seizures occurred.

1890.

Mary Taylor (50 tons), built in 1875, was sold at R., 105. Victoria by Warren to Munsie for about $4,000.

1893.

Vera (60 tons), built in 1888, was sold at Victoria R., 141. for $7,442.

Annie E. Paint (82 tons), built in 1885, was sold at Victoria about 1893 (?) for $9,400.

1894.

Otto (86 tons); one-quarter interest was bought by Munsie at the rate of $5,500.

Besides these sales at Victoria, Great Britain produced evidence to establish what was the cost of vessels, purchased in Nova Scotia, when delivered at Victoria. The schooners built in the east were of a superior class of material and workmanship to those produced in the shipyards of the Pacific Coast, and were with but one exception comparatively new vessels. It is therefore contended that the prices paid for such craft are no criterion of the market value of vessels constructed of Douglas fir by less experienced builders.

R., 754, line 47.

R., 1424, line

30.

The list, classified by years, is as follows:

1886.

Pathfinder (66 tons), built in 1879, was purchased in Nova Scotia by Munsie. Her cost, delivered at Victoria, was $6,500.

1887.

Aurora (about 70 tons), built in 1881, was purchased in Nova Scotia for $6,600. She cost $1,200 to bring her to Victoria, making a total of $7,800. It appears, however, she had an accident in the Straits of Magellan, which undoubtedly added to her cost at Victoria, because of delay and repairs.

Viva (about 92 tons), built in 1885, was purchased in Nova Scotia and brought to Victoria by Munsie. Her cost, delivered at Victoria, was about $9,000.

Sapphire (123 tons), built in 1884, was purchased in Nova Scotia and brought to Victoria, but the cost of the vessel was not given.

Triumph (97 tons), built in 1887, was purchased in Nova Scotia by E. C. Baker and Daniel McLean for

$5,000; delivered at Victoria in April, 1888, she cost her owners $8,250.

1890.

Ocean Belle (80 tons), built in 1884, was purchased R., 158. in Nova Scotia. Her cost, delivered at Victoria, was $8,000.

Geneva (90 tons), built in 1885, was purchased in R., 158. Nova Scotia. Her cost, delivered at Victoria, was $8,700.

1891.

Dora Sieward (93 tons), purchased in Nova Scotia, R., 158. Her cost, delivered at Victoria, was $9,039.20.

From the foregoing list of sales at Victoria, furnished by the evidence of witnesses sworn on behalf of the claimants, and of the list of schooners brought from Nova Scotia for sealing purposes, the following tables have been prepared, showing the price per ton for such vessels in the Victoria market:

Average price per ton at Victoria for vessels purchased in Nova Scotia.

From the foregoing summary of the evidence presented by both parties to this controversy, the following table is submitted as showing the average market price per ton for sealing vessels at Victoria in the years 1886 and 1887, as established by actual sales. The table contains three Nova Scotian vessels, which are included to avoid any charge of unfairness, although, as already stated, these schooners were far superior to those seized, both in material and construction.

Price per ton in 1886 and 1887 for vessels at Victoria, as shown by actual sales.

NOTE.-The Aurora is omitted from this table, as it appears from the evidence that she met with an accident in the Straits of Magellan, which, as already stated, undoubtedly increased the expenses of bringing the vessel from Nova Scotia.

The second class of evidence, relating to the value of vessels, presented to the Commissioners, partakes of the character of expert testimony, and is substantially the only evidence relied upon in the Argument on behalf of Great Britain to establish the value of the seized vessels. The prominence given this class of evidence by Great Britain demands a detailed ex

amination of the qualifications, competency, and credibility of each witness sworn on behalf of either of the high contracting parties.

The witnesses produced by Great Britain will be first discussed in the order of importance given them in the Argument on behalf of the claimants.

line 35.

Walter Walker, termed in the Argument "ship- Br. Arg., 97, wright and proprietor of shipyard," and cited as to the value of the Carolena, Onward, Anna Beck, Grace, and Dolphin, was a journeyman ship carpenter. It does not appear that he ever built a sealing schooner or worked upon one in course of construction, nor does it appear when he became interested in "Trahey's shipyard," of which he claimed to have been the proprietor; but in 1883 he was working as foreman in repairing a Government steamer and left his trade in "2. April, 1884, to become measuring surveyor of the R., 175, line port of Victoria. His estimates of value are based R., 181, line on what it would cost to build vessels in Victoria in 40. the years 1886 and 1887, and do not refer to market value, as is shown by the following from his exami

nation:

R., 174, line

15.

Q. You can only tell what it would cost to build a schooner R., 181, line here in Victoria where they did not have the ship chandlery 40. material, and where they would have to pay a high price if they did get it; that is all you propose to tell?

A. That is all.

40.

Q. When you testified as to the value of ships in 1886 you R., 185, line were not very familiar with vessels that were sold in that year, were you, or familiar with their prices?

A. No.

R., 175, line

6.

This witness had repaired the Favourite after 1882, 10; 183, line and was therefore familiar with her build and condition. When requested to place a value upon her repaired, he gave as his opinion that she was worth R., 184, line $7,000 or $8,000. The vessel, which was of 80 tons register, was actually sold in 1884 for $4,500, and R., 701, line again transferred in 1886 "just as she came from sea" R., 409, line

28.

29.