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Q.-But there are a lot more people here now?
A. Yes, but I get less business from the compradore shops, and that is the rea son why the business has diminished.
Q.--But there are more people to eat meat here?
A. Well, there are different butchers; there are a great number of butchers.
Q.-There are not more butchers this year than last?
A. That is quite so, but the butchers go round and get my business.
Q.-Then your business is falling away?
A. Yes; it is falling off and I am thinking of closing it.
Q.--You have been making big losses for the last three years, have you not?
A.—I have lost from $3,000 to $4,000 during the last three years.
Mr. Osborne.-How many customers have you got in the Colony? A.I have about 16 regular customers.
Q.-Does he supply the Military and the Navy?
A.-No.
Q.-The Police ?
A.--No.
Q.-Does he know how many customers Tung Wing has ?
A.--He supplies meat to the Army and Navy, and I also know that he has five or six regular customers.
Q.-That is 22 customers between the two of them. Where do all the other people get their meat from ?
The Chairman.Are these compradores or private people?
A.--The 16 include compradores and boys or stewards at the Barracks.
Q.--How many compradores does he supply?
A.-Seven.
Mr. Osborne. Where do the other people in the Colony buy their meat from? There are more than 22 people in the Colony who buy meat?
A. You see there are a great number of stalls in the Market.
Q. How many butchers' stalls are there in the Market?
A.
Twenty-six which sell beef and mutton.
Q.-Does not he supply to these stalls?
A.—Yes, every now and then; when they find that their meat is exhausted they come round to me and buy some.
Q. What is the total average profit on the sale of one ox?
A.-I am not able to tell you.
Mr. Osborne. About how much, within a dollar?
A. It is impossible for me to state.
Q. What does he sell his beef at to a customer?
À.—I charge butchers as well as compradores 14 cents a pound,
Q.--And what would you charge a private boy customer?
A. Fourteen cents.
The Chairman.-Do you not sell the meat to the compradore or butcher at whole- sale prices?
A.-Well, I sell at the same price-14 cents a pound.