Highest Seats

Broker Horace Leslie Hotchkiss Jr. of the New York Stock Exchange decided to retire and last week sold his Exchange seat for $300,000--temporarily the record price.

He joined the Exchange in 1890 when seats were worth $17,000 to $22,500. Therefore his profit approximates $280,000 or 1,200%.

Last week also Donald S. Pourch, New York Curb Market broker, sold his membership to William E. Edmonds Jr. for $45,000--a record Curb price.