414 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 



Stocks in Paris at the same date in 1886 slightl;^^ exceeded 3,000,000 

 bushels. They were about 3,000,000 bushels April 1, 1885, and nearly 

 5,000,000 bushels April 1, 188^ 



Records of other continental markets are not complete, but stocks 

 are generally small and dijffer little in quantity from those of a year 



ago. 



There ar© no great reservoirs of stored wheat in these hand-to- 

 mouth markets. Stocks represent the consumption of _ a fraction of 

 a month, hence a statement of stocks on hand, except in the United 

 States, is of little utility. In Russia and Southeastern^ Europe the 

 reserves are invisible, and in good years the distribution is much 

 slower than in this country, and liable to go over to succeeding crops. 



The amount on the water from all parts of the world is a somewhat 

 larger consideration. The British trade records, May 1, made in 

 round numbers the (Quantity of wheat and flour "on passage" 

 17,000,000 bushels agamst 25,000,000 bushels at the same time last 

 year. French calculations made the total coming to Europe 21, 000, 000 

 bushels against 30,000,000 bushels last year. 



Comparing stocks on hand (greater in Great Britain), in connection 

 with grain and flour en route by sea, there appears to be a small de- 

 cline, but not exceeding a few million bushels, perhaps not exceeding 

 two days' consumption of Europe, in comparison with the stocks of 

 last year. 



In the first months of 1886, to May 1, the importation into Great 

 Britain has fallen off one-third, or 15,000,000 bushels, as compared 

 with the same months in 1885. With this reduction, the proportion 

 contributed by the United States amounts to 16,000,000 bushels, in- 

 cluding flour as wheat, or 52 per cent, of British imports. India, in 

 these four months, sent over 11,000,000 bushels, and Russia nearly 

 5,000,000 bushels. A comparison of the four months of 1885 and 1886, 

 to April 30, is as follows: 



From- 



1885. 



1886. 



Russia 



Germany 



Turkey 



Boumania 



Egypt 



United States : 



Atlantic 



Pacific 



Cliili 



British India 



Australasia 



British North America 

 other countries 



Total 



Floiu" as wheat 



Grand total 



Bushels. 



3,591,101 



990, 188 



258,600 



66, 802 



143,655 



9,118,404 



10,318,601 



90, 509 



4,787,507 



1,480,530 



63, 902 



089, 972 



81 , 699, 381 

 14,373,226 



Bushels. 

 2,579,695 



1,345,864 

 148, 988 

 134,417 



8,887,191 

 5, 639, 349 



296, 804 

 6, 577, 751 



857,118 

 59,324 



753,275 



21,779,277 



8, 825, 384 



45,073,507 



30,604,011 



While the importations of 1885 gave an excess over consumption of 

 about 10,000,000 bushels, there is a deficiency since January that more 

 than overbalances it. 



