3580. There has been no important change made in the system of carrying on business either in your shop or in his during that time?-No.
3581. Do you do much in the coarser kinds of hosiery?-A little not a great deal. The stockings are generally done by the country people, and the finer work by the town's people.
3582. You buy the stockings from the country people?-Yes, I just exchange the one article for the other.
3583. You fix a nominal price at which you are to buy the stockings?-Yes; the price. I expect to get for them, as near as I can fix it.
3584. You don't expect to make a profit on them?-No; I would often be very thankful to get what I have paid for them.
3585. Then your profit is on the goods which you give in exchange?-Yes.
3586. Do you think you take a higher profit on your goods in consequence of accepting payment for them in hosiery rather than in cash?-No; the goods are all marked in plain figures. When I get cash I generally give off 21/2 or 33/4 cent.
3587. But don't you take a higher profit from all your customers because so much of your goods are paid for in hosiery?-No; if I did so, I would run the risk of losing my business; and in fact I would rather give up the hosiery altogether, because I don't think it [Page 82] pays very well, so much of it gets damaged, and the moths get into it.
3588. How long were you in Mr. Sinclair's shop?-For thirteen years.
3589. Were you acquainted both with the prices paid for hosiery goods and the prices obtained for them in the south?-Yes.