1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

74

not to pass over without a few remarks, as forming another source from whence a considerable profit is derived, and by means of which, it will be seen a tolerable degree of imposition can be practised, is with respect to the size of bottles. From my long connexion with the Wine Trade, I have ne- been brought in contact, and become in- timately acquainted, with many Bottle Merchants, from whose information, coupled with my own judgment and experience, I can state several facts on this head, which have a near relation to the ex- posures I have already made. The bottles, as mea- sured off, by the workmen employed for the pur- pose, consist of six various sizes ; but which, as making no real difference, still retain their titles as applying to the old measure. The terms by which they are-known in the trade, are and, in giving a Scale, showing the relative number of bottles of each size, required to take three gal- lons of liquid, according to the old measure, to fill them, and setting forth the proportionate alteration, which may be occasioned in the price per dozen, by the use of either size in bottling a pipe of Port, supposed to stand the Dealer in 761. with all ex- pences, and allowing three gallons to be taken off as bottoms, it is with the most perfect conviction that a considerable portion of the mystery of our cessarily Full Quarts, Small Fourteens, Thirteens, Fifteens, Fourteens, Sixteens,

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker