11,038. Was it not by information obtained from the agent who employed the man?-It was possibly from the Custom House, or from some other party.
11,039. But it might have been from the agent who engaged the man?-It is quite possible.
11,040. Was it not a regular practice to give information of that sort?-No.
11,041. Was such an arrangement made more commonly when the man was pretty deep in debt?-Yes.
11,042. The agent in whose books he had run up a considerable debt would look sharper after him, and would make inquiries at the other agent by whom he was employed?-Yes.
11,043. So that at least to that extent there was regular system of communication between the agents?-It was not done to any great extent; it was merely trifling. There were not so many men in debt as to make it a common practice.
11,044. It might come to something considerable where several hundreds of men were engaged in the whale fishing?-Yes; but when they were divided among four agents there would not be many.
11,045. But last year you engaged 280 men yourselves?-Yes.
11,046. And in some years the number of men employed in the sealing and whaling would be greater?-Yes. I think we employed about 500 in 1853.
11,047. So that among 500 men employed by you it was very probable that a considerable number should be in your debt?-I don't think there were many of them indebted at all. Last year there were very few indeed.