THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



169 



38,863 tons in 1857. The anticipation of a better demand 

 during the past twelve months has not been realized; the 

 Btocits on hand remain very heavy, both in the hands of 

 importers and manufacturers, and prices lower than they 

 have been since 1853. 



Brimstone. — The import this year has been about 1,728 

 tons, against 569 tons in 1857, and 1,3()3 tons in 185(). The 

 article has undergoae several fluctuations during the year, 

 arising from causes difficult to account for, tiie price vary- 

 ing from £7 to £ 12 per ton. The only stock here at present 

 consists of about 100 tons still afloat, the value being about 

 £8 5s. per ton for best seconds, ex ship. 



Coals —The exports taken from the Custom-IIouse lists 

 for the year 1858 ate 129,300 tons. The deficiency com- 

 pared with last year of 3,545 tons arises from the colliers 

 being partially out in the ^yest Riding. 



Wood.— The heavy stocks of deals held in this market at 

 the commencement of the year, of the imports of 1856 and 

 1357, on account of the shippers at Petersburg, Wyburg, 

 and to a more limited extent Quebec, together with tiie 

 very low rates of freight in the spring, had a seriously de- 

 preciating effect upon the prices of wood imports generally, 

 which continued for the first eight or nine months of the 

 season. Large sacrifices had to be made by the holders, in 

 some cases to the extent of 30 per cent ; these cargoes were 

 thus forced into consumption ; a more healthy state of busi- 

 ness was the result, which, together with a rather improved 

 country demand, the enhanced prices required by the foreign 

 merchant, increased rates of insurance usual at the fall of 

 the j'ear, combined with the prospect of a better and a pro- 

 fitable trade "looming in the future," enables us to report a 

 greater market value of the present stocks of deals, to the 

 extent of i5s. to 20s. per std. hnd. upon the lowest prices 



obtained during the year. In balk timber the improvement 

 in price has not been so manifest, owing to there being few 

 works in progress of magnitude requiring strong timber in 

 the district commanded by this market. In sliipbuilding 

 timber, elm and yellow pine only are used in consumption 

 for the decks and fittings of iron-built vessels. There hav- 

 ing been only one new wood-built ship launched in this port 

 during the last two years, there is no demand for this 

 deocriptioii of goods ; b<it in number and construction of 

 iron-built ships of great burthen, we are rivalling the 

 largest ports iu the kingdom. The nupply and demand of 

 sawu wood, the produce of the north of Europe, have been 

 singularly proportionate, whereas the imports over the con- 

 sumption of hewn is nearly flftt'en thousand loads, which is 

 sufficiently accounted for by our previous remarks. The 

 average of stock of all kinds maj be considered about equal to 

 that of last year at the same period, and below that of 1856. 

 Tliis opinion can only be formed by observation, as this port 

 forms an exception to those of Loudon and Liverpool, where 

 the stocks are yarded by the Dock Companies, and the re- 

 turns can be ascertained on any given date of the precise im. 

 port, consumption, and stock on hand. 



Shipping. — The year opened with few freights in the mar- 

 ket, and the rates accented by shipowners were, in many 

 cases, unremunerative. Towards the close of the seison, a 

 decided improvement took place in Baltie freights, but the 

 general character of business iu this branch of commerce for 

 the whole of the past year has been discoura2;iQg ; there is 

 now, however, a much better prospect, and it is to be hoped 

 that the recent opening up of new countries to our trade will 

 be productive of beneficial effects. 



P. Bruce, 

 Secretary to the Hull Chamber of Commerce. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LIVERPOOL WOOL TRADE 



General Remarks. — "We commenced the year in the 

 midst of a panic of unusual intensity, with trade completely 

 paralyzed, and the commercisl institutions of the country — 

 and indeed of the whole world — shaken to their very founda- 

 tions. Several months passed over without any visible signs 

 of amelioration, notwithstanding the parii.d removal of pres- 

 sure in the money market, and each successive return showed 

 still further retraction in cur gcnerel exports. Although these 

 have latterly very ranch increased, it is not surprising that for 

 the twelvemonth they coatrast very unfavourably with late 

 years ; which, however, it must be borne in mind, were periods 

 of very remarkable expansion. 



Home demand for Woollen Goods. — The activity 

 noticed in our last report has been fully maiataiued throughout 

 the whole of the present year, and has been still further sti- 

 midated under the influence of an early and abundant harvest, 

 consequently the population employed in this important 

 branch of manufacture have been better off than most of those 

 engaged in other departments of our staple industry. 



Export of Woollen Goods.— The late panic was se- 

 verely felt iu this branch of our trade, limiting the demand in 

 all markets abroad, while the reduced exports have greatly 

 aggravated the distress in the shipping interest, and as the 

 crisis was the most severely felt iu the United States, which is 

 our best and largest customer, the falling-off iu shipments has 

 been chiefly to that quarter. The revival in trade was more 

 graduiil there than with us, but as business is no-.v established 

 on a sound footing, we look with confidence to an expanding 

 trade to that and all other markets. 



Consumers. — Their position during the early part of the 

 year v.-as atieuLfed with great difficulty, but they stood their 

 ground well. Since the clip they have had to contend with a 

 continuous and considerable rise in the value of wool, without, 

 as generally happens at such times, being able to obtain a cor- 



responding advance in yarns or manufactured goods; but 

 those who were able to take a far-sighted view of the question, 

 and supplied themselves liberally while wools were obtainable 

 at moderate rates, must have done a profitable business. It 

 is with great pleasure we refer to the very marked improve- 

 ment which has manifested itself during the last few months 

 in the Bradford district, so long suffering from -prostration, 

 which has now resumed its wonted appearance of busy activity. 

 In the fine clothing trade a steady business has beeu done, 

 and from the caution exercised, tiiere has beeu no accumu- 

 lation of goods, so that on the whole the course of trade has 

 been very satisfactory. The same remarks may for the most 

 part be applied to the flannel and hosiery trade. On the other 

 hand, iu the hlanhet and carpet districts, we regret to say that 

 the state of business has been very discouraging during a 

 great part of the year, and .they have suffered in a particular 

 degree from the iuterniptiou iu our export trade, chiefly with 

 the United States. Matters are certainly looking better now, 

 but we fear it will still be some time before wc are able to re- 

 port any very decided improvement. 



Wool Trade.— In our last annual report we exprejsed a 

 strong; opinion that this branch of business was, iu itself, in a 

 sound position, nevertheless it could not fail to suffer from the 

 consequences of the general crisis; and although for a lor g 

 time business was almost at a standstill, iu the absence of 

 excessive supplies, either of home or foreign and colonial, and 

 no undue pressure on the part of holders to force sales, prices 

 remained nominally pretty well sui>porttd for some 

 time. We are happy to state that very few failures 

 occurred; these were fortunately confined within a narrow 

 circle in the manufacturing districts, and more or less involved 

 iu speculative traneactions with two cuncerns in Loudon, en- 

 gaged as dealers iu English wools, who had also suspended 

 payment. The liabilities cf these firms being both very con- 

 siderable, and their operations very complicated, exercised a 

 mo9t unfavourable influence on the whole trade; and, (here 

 being considerable delay iu realizing the stocks of wool, it was 

 near clip time before the chief part was disposed of, and tiie 

 unusual course of forcing off a large quantity of wool by public 

 auction at this period had more influence than ^undei ordinary 



