BUREAU OF MARKETS. 455 



mission merchants of this sort perform. Records were obtained from 

 these firms regarding the purchase and sale of more than 250,000 cars 

 of grain. 



FOOD SURVEYS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



These surveys have been conducted under the authority of the food 

 production act and have been directly supervised by Mr. C. W. 

 Thompson. Close cooperation has been maintained with the Food 

 Administration, and the work contemplated for the coming year will 

 follow lines laid down in conference with representatives of that body. 



Information has been obtained regarding the quantities of impor- 

 tant food commodities in the hands of manufacturers, storage con- 

 cerns, wholesale and retail dealers, at various dates within the year, 

 and regarding the stocks of raw materials on farms and foodstuffs in 

 households. Two comprehensive surveys of commercial stocks have 

 been completed, one under date of August 21, 1917, covering 18 

 selected items,. and a second under date of January 1, 1918, covering 

 86 items. A comprehensive survey, covering the commercial hold- 

 ings of 67 foodjbbinmodities on July 1, 1918, is under way. 



information I'egkrding farm stocks was obtained for the first and 

 second surveys with the aid of the Bureau of Crop Estimates. 



Reports! of household stocks and household consumption were 

 secured, ih cooperation with the States Relations Service. In con- 

 nection with 'this siirvey a special dietary study was undertaken, the 

 Jesuits of which promise to be of great value. 



To aid ; in determining the production of the various cereals for 

 the crop year, 1918, reports are being obtained direct from thrashers, 

 with the assistance of the States Relations Service. 



Since ApHl 1,- 1918, monthly reports with regard to commercial 

 stocks of grains and grain products nave been secured from elevators, 

 miUs, warehoiises, and wholesale dealers in grain and flour, and since 

 May 1, 1918, siinilar reports, covering sugar, condensed milk, and 

 canned goods, etc., have been secured from wholesale grocers and 

 from certain manufacturers. 



The results of 1 the survey of August 31, 1917, were published in 

 six circulars in the Office of the Secretary series, reporting the supply 

 in the United States of sugar, lard, canned salmon, and the commercial 

 slocks of miscellaneous cereals, vegetables, foodstuffs, wheat and 

 flour, and miscellaneous animal food products. 



Since April, 1918, a monthly publication entitled "Food Surveys" 

 has been issued, giving the results of the monthly reports above 

 referred to. Special issues also have been published, givmg in detail 

 the results of the survey of January 1, 1918, with diagrams for the 

 graphic presentation of important features, 



FERTILIZER SURVEYS. 



A survey relative to the supply of fertilizers and fertilizer materials 

 on hand, imports, production, and producing capacity, was made 

 under date of October 1, 1917, and supervised by Messrs. C. W. 

 Thompson and D. S. Murph. Reports were obtained from all 

 branches of the fertilizer industry, including importers, manu- 

 facturers, and mixers, miners (of phosphate rock), wholesale dealers, 

 and retail dealers. The results of this survey were published in 

 Office of the Secretary Circular 104, Commercial Stocks of Fertilizer 



