176 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Cattle Bones and Bone Ash. — The import last year 

 was 12,C14 tons, against 20,381 in '59, 16,908 in '68, 10,297 

 in '67, and 16,200 in '56; thus showing a deficiency of 

 7,767 tons less in '60 than '59, also 2,543 tons less than the 

 average import of the previous five years. The short im- 

 ports this fall arises partly from the effects of the large im- 

 portations of grain, in many cases amounting to a prohibi- 

 tion on their shipment. The prices ruled steady during the 

 season, ranging from £b 5s. in January up to £6 10s. in the 

 middle of May ; the supplies then being liberal, prices gave 

 way to previous rates; subsequently, owing to the rise in 

 freights, imports rapidly fell off, and prices advanced to £6 

 17s. 6d. ; buyers, however, holding off, 2s. 6d. to 5s. less has 

 latterly been taken. The continued high rates of freight, 

 and the closing of the Baltic and continental ports, are likely, 

 however, to curtail supplies for some time to come. The 

 stocks are about much the same as last year, say 1,800 tons 

 bones, and 1 ,000 tons bone ash. 



Tab. — The movement in this article has been an extra- 

 ordinary one, inasmuch as, owing to a deficiency of supply, 

 not only at this, but at other large consuming ports also, the 

 value thereof has more than doubled itself as compared with 

 the average price of the last five years. The small stocks in 

 second hands were exhausted long before any of the sea- 

 son's regular imports from Finland look place; and the 

 price, opening at about 19s., gradually advanced to 30s. in 

 November, when, on somewhat larger imports in London 

 taking place, the price receded 2s. per brl. ; a similar reduc- 

 tion in the value was consequent upon the few transactions 

 that occurred here, and a parcel of Jacobstadtis reported to 

 remain still unsold upon the market. The total imports 

 reach about 14,460 brls , against 21,870 brls. in 1869, and 

 26,810 brls. in 1857. Stocks remaining over in first hands 

 small, and the value 29s. to 30s. per brl. 



Timber. — The timber trade liPs been remarkably steady 

 throughout the year, the importation not being excessive, 

 and the consumption being much of the same character, 

 leaving the stocks in hand not in excess of those of last) ear. 

 The most remarkable feature during the year was that of 

 the alteration of the duty, which took place in February, by 

 which timber and deals of foreign produce were reduced to 

 the same rate as that chargeable on colonial. The effect on 

 prices, however, to the consumer has been less than was an« 

 ticipated: the shippersof European produce immediately in- 

 creased their demands, and though they may not have realized 

 the full amount of the reduction, they have no doubt ob- 

 tained higher prices than they would otherwise have done. 

 At the same time, it opened the market for the shipment 



of lower qualities of European produce, the importation of 

 which has considerably increased during the year, particu- 

 larly from ports where the rates of freight are low. The 

 importation to Hull is more than that of the previous 

 year, and would have been still greater ; but many car- 

 goes were sent into Hartlepool by Hull merchants, in 

 consequence of the inducemenis which the Hartle- 

 pool and North Eastern Kailway Companies have held 

 out by making low rates for landing charges and for convey- 

 ance into the interior of the country. ' The sleeper trade has 

 not been of a satisfactory character, the competition has 

 been such as to render it generally unprofitable, particularly 

 when met, as it has been this year, by an advance in freights 

 during the Autumn. A reference to the prices current will 

 not show any great change in the value of wood goods gene- 

 rally. 



Shipping. — The year 1860 opened with flatness in the 

 colonial lumber trade, and the early engagements were 

 made at 30s. to 31s. dd. per loadfor Timber from Quebec, and 

 77s. 6d. to 80s. per standard for Deals from the lower ports. 

 The early Baltic rates were also unremunerative, and busi- 

 ness was done for the first voyages at 15s. Merael, 46s. Wy- 

 burg, 40s. Cronstadt, 60s, Upper ports in the Gulf of Both- 

 nia, and 52s. 6d, from the Lower Gulf Ports. From 

 Riga 3s. 7^d- per qr. Linseed was paid, and from Archangel 

 4s, 9d. As the year progi-essed, it became evident that the 

 discouragement the shipping interest had been subjected 

 to of late years, and the numerous losses of vessels which had 

 not been replaced, were beginning to make themselves 

 severally felt in the freight market. Freights gradually ad- 

 vanced until the closing transactions on this side reached 

 38s. Quebec, 95s Low Ports, 60s. Wyburg, 70s. Lower 

 Bothnia Ports, &c., while on the other side still higher 

 rates were readily obtained. A very noticeable fea- 

 ture during the year has been the constantly increasing 

 number of engagements of tonnage for Hartlepool and 

 Grimsby, which would have been taken for Hull if proper 

 means had been used to encourage the trade of the port. 

 This circumstance demands the utmost and most serious 

 attention of every individual interested in the town and 

 trade of Hull. The future wears a more promising aspect 

 for shipowners than has been the case for years, and every 

 facility should be afforded for the realization of their hopes, 

 in Older that this important branch of commerce may 

 speedily revive, to the great advantage of the inhabitants of 

 the port. 



Hull, Jan,]. P. Bruce, 



Secretary to the Hull Chamber of Commerce. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LIVERPOOL WOOL TRADE. 



LIVERPOOL, December 31, I860.— In taking a retro- 

 spect of the past year, we are happy to say the Wool 

 Trade, on the whole, has been in a very satisfactory and 

 healthy state. In the early part, political events abroad, 

 and to some extent also at home, and subsequently 

 serious apprehensions for the harvest, had a somewhat 

 depressing influence, and induced all parties to act with 

 great caution. This feeling has continued more or less 

 throughout the whole twelvemonth, and greatly tended to 

 impart to our trade that stability and soundness which so 

 favourably distinguish it at present. 



The exports of Woollen INIanufactures show again an 

 increase, as compared with the previous year, amounting 

 to upwards of ^1,000,000 more than in 1859 — hitherto the 

 largest year. The consequence has been, a steady and 

 profitable employment of the manufacturing population 

 in this branch, which has thus been enabled to become 

 again good customers to the home trade. 



The Raw Material, so far as regards the yield of last 

 year's clip of home growth, has proved materially defi- 

 cient, owing to the severe and protracted winter, and 

 consequent mortality among sheep. This deficiency has 

 in some degree been supplemented by an increase in the 

 Imports of Colonial and Foreign Wools, which are unpre- 



cedentedly large, exceeding those of the previous year by 

 about 58,000 bales, or 12,000,0001bs. 



The Exports of Colonial and Foreign Wools have also 

 been larger than in 1859 by about 600,0001bs., whilst 

 those of Homegrown Wools have been larger by no less 

 than 2,500,0001bs., owing, no doubt, to the alteration in 

 the French tariff. 



Australian. — The total imports show an increase of 

 about 14,000 bales. The bulk has, as usual, been disposed 

 of at public auction in London, at the following four 

 series, viz. : 



Australian. Capes. 



From March 1 to March 20. . 35,987 .. ^"13,209 



„ May 3 to June 1.. 67,911 .. '-3 8,847 



„ July 19 to Aug. 30.. 88,639 .. .S 10,224 



„ Nov. 15 to Dec. 7.. 45,576 .. 221,138 



Together.. 238,113 53,418 



The condition of Australian has been about the same as 

 in the preceding year. During the first three sales, prices, 

 taken on the average, did not undergo any material 

 change; but at the last series, an advance of fully Id. per 



