BBOEOK V. BABGB JOHIf M. WBLCH. 867 �boats, during this time, have plied between the ports of Buf- falo and New York, by way of the Erie canal and the Hudson river. Others have plied on the Hudson river exclusively, while others, and much the largest number, have plied between Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, by way of the Dela- ware and Earitan canal. But ail of these boats have been and are of the same class, and the same boats bave never exclusively been employed on the same waters. It bas been, and still is, a matter of convenience simply whether the same boat should be sent to Baltimore or to Buffalo. From 1870 to 1874 the number of boats or barges thus owned and employed by the petitioners was about 300 each year. From 1874 to the present time the number bas been about one-half as large each year. Previous to the year 1870, and, indeed, previous to the year 1875, (for until the year 1875 the distinction of rates of wharfage now complained of was not enforced practically, or, rather, generally,) the wharfage on ail these boats or barges, at the port of New York, for the use of New York or Brooklyn wharves, was 50 or 75 cents per day for each boat, according as the boat had inside or outside wharfage. No question was made as to where the boat or barge came from. Her owners were required to pay only 50 or 75 cents per day, for use of the wharf, to the wharf owners. At the present time, and always heretofore, no greater sum is or bas been demanded for wharf- age of canal boats or barges plying on the canals and rivers of the state of New York than 50 cents or 75 cents per day for each boat. At this rate, the wharfage of the John M. Welch, for the period of 10 days, would have been not more than $5 or $7.50, which is about one-sixth of the amount claimed in the libel. No greater wharfage than $5 or $7.50, for ten days' wharfage, would bave been demanded of the owners of the John M. Welch, as. the petitioners, from their own experience, know, if the said barge had, on the tenth of October, 1876, completed a voyage from Buffalo to New York, instead of from Baltimore to New York. In respect of the petitioners' own business this distinction of wharfage rates, 80 far as any accurate calculation can be made, and speak- ing from the data given by the business transactions of tha ����
