126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



The wine tables show a constant annual increase from the year 

 1875, without a single fluctuatiun. The brandy tables show a less 

 export for 1878 than for 1877, by about 9,000 gallons. This must be 

 accounted for by the higher price of grapes in that year, and there- 

 fore a less amount of distillation, and consequently an advanced 

 price for brandy. There has also been a very notable decrease in 

 the importation of French wines into the port of San Francisco 

 between 1874 and 1878. The importation in 1874 was: 



In wood 750,000 gals. 



Ill glass 51,800 gals. 



Total 801,800 gals. 



In 1878 the importation was : 



In wood 370,000 gals. 



In glass 15,900 gals. 



Total 385,900 gals. 



Showing a decrease of 495,900 gallons into this port in four years' 

 time. To say the least, we must look upon this change as favorable. 

 The importation of French wines into all ports of the United States 

 has greatly decreased, as the following figures of importation for ten 

 years will show : 



1868 - 3,410,000 



1869 5,964,000 



1870 6,663,000 



1871 6,290,000 



1872 7,080,000 



1873 5.511,000 



1874 5,297,000 



1875 3.263,000 



1876 2,757,000 



1877 1 2,486,000 



This very notable reduction may be ascribed, first, to the cheapness 

 and good quality of our own wines, and secondly, to the thorough 

 enforcement of the present customs tariff. 



PRICES. 



The prices for wines and brandies were lowest during the year 1876 

 and the beginning of the year 1877, and so slight was the demand, 

 and so great the stock on hand, that the viniculturists became 

 alarmed throughout the State. These matters have, however, been 

 once again regulated by large distillations in 1877 and 1878, by an 

 increased home consumption, and a very considerable increase in 

 our exports. It was thought in 1877 that the business was overdone, 

 and that we had too many vines. But a reaction has taken place, 

 and in 1879 our plantations have been greater than for many years 

 back. In the northern wine districts, where, in the fall of 1876, the 

 Mission grape was sold for from $7 50 to $10 per ton, and the foreign 

 from $14 to $18, in 1878 brought for the Mission from $12 to $14, and 

 for the foreign from $22 to $26 per ton. From what I am able to learn, 



