After Bailly finished discussing the sales situation, he concluded: "However, there has already been a case of illegal sales of gold mining tools in California, which has caused us a significant loss—potentially exceeding 70,000 francs."
Joseph lowered his head, reviewing the report from Bailly about the situation in California.
Due to the extensive gold deposits along the North American West Coast, a massive workforce is needed for effective mining, so the Spanish government implemented a licensing system.
Anyone could mine for gold within designated areas by regularly paying a permit fee.
Of course, the permit fee for Spanish whites was lower, and they had greater privileges, such as establishing camps, purchasing farmland, and hunting.
However, Mestizo people, those of mixed blood, and Mexican natives not only paid more but were only allowed to mine gold, and had to rely on white people's camps for lodging and food.
