Task: songer_casetyp1_7-2

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals.
Your task is to identify the issue in the case, that is, the social and/or political context of the litigation in which more purely legal issues are argued. Put somewhat differently, this field identifies the nature of the conflict between the litigants. The focus here is on the subject matter of the controversy rather than its legal basis.
Your task is to determine the specific issue in the case within the broad category of "economic activity and regulation". 

WOODS, Circuit Judge.
The main issue in the District Court was whether the defendant was liable on its contract with the plaintiff for 10 per cent, royalty on coal used and not sold. This issue was decided in favor of the plaintiff. The decree fixed the number of tons upon which the royalty was due and the liability of the defendant for 10 per cent, of the market value thereon over $1 a ton. As a necessary preliminary to a final judgment, the decree directed a special master to ascertain the market value of the coal, and, upon the basis oí: that value, report the amount due by the defendant. There has been no report, and no final decree thereon. This court is therefore without jurisdiction; and the appeal must be dismissed. Roswell Beebe et al., v. William Russell, 19 How. 283, 285, 15 L. Ed. 668; Keystone Manganese Co. v. Martin, 132 U. S. 91, 10 S. Ct. 32, 33 L. Ed. 275; Lodge v. Twell, 135 U. S. 232, 10 S. Ct. 745, 34 L. Ed. 153; McGourkey v. Toledo & Ohio Central R. Co., 146 U. S. 536, 13 S. Ct. 170, 36 L. Ed. 1079; Covington v. Covington First National Bank, 185 U. S. 270, 22 S. Ct. 645, 46 L. Ed. 906; Rexford v. Brunswick-Balke Co., 228 U. S. 340, 33 S. Ct. 515, 57 L. Ed. 864; Halfpenny v. Miller, 232 F. 113, 146 C. C. A. 305 (fourth circuit)
Appeal dismissed.

Question: What is the specific issue in the case within the general category of "economic activity and regulation"?
A. taxes, patents, copyright
B. torts
C. commercial disputes
D. bankruptcy, antitrust, securities
E. misc economic regulation and benefits
F. property disputes
G. other
Answer:

Answer: C