REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



185 



mostly absorbed in tbe manufacture of beer, either in the city or it>3 

 immediate neighborhood. Prices, January 1, were $0.70® $1.35 per 

 bushel ; became nominal in June, v/ere quoted at 55® 95 cents in July, 

 and rose to 60 © 95 cents December 1. The brewers prefer malt of their 

 own manufacture, or malted in the city malt-houses ; but Canadian, 

 northern, and western malt was marketed in large quantities during the 

 year. 



The receipts (not including the product of the city mills) and exports 

 of flour and grain were as follows : 



BALTIMORE. 



The receipts of flour and grain at Baltimore during 187G show an in- 

 crease of nearly 60 per cent, compared with 1875, and nearly 50 per cent, 

 compared with the great grain year of 1874. The increase is mostly in 

 corn ; the other items, excepting rye, show a decline. The most of this 

 trade consists in flour, wheat, and corn. 



Flour. — The Baltimore Flour and Corn Exchange reports the aggregate 

 receipts of 1876 at 1,389,538 barrels, against 1,391,843 barrels in 1875, 

 a decline of 2,305 barrels. This report does not include the coasting- 

 trade with Richmond, Va., which in 1876 is estimated at 65,000 barrels, 

 making the total receipts 1,454,538 barrels. Of the receipts, 321,852 were 

 reported as contributed by the city mills, an aggregate which is considered 

 as considerably below the truth. It should probably be placed as high as 

 400,000 barrels. Shipments to home points are not given. The foreign 

 exports of 1876 amounted to 426,094, a decline of 6 per cent, from the 

 figures of 1875. Of the exports of 1876, about 58 per cent, went to 

 South America, 24 per cent, to the West Indies, and the remainder 

 mostly to Europe, Great Britain taking 51,032 barrels. The character 

 of the flour made by the Baltimore mills was fully maintained during 

 the year. The wheat crop of the neighboring regions, upon which the 

 city mills mostly depend for supply, was remarkably good, and tlie manu- 

 facture carefully conducted. The market ruled low for inferior brands 

 during most of the year, but improved toward the close, rising fall $1 

 per barrel above previous minimum quotations. High grades of city 

 mills manufacture fluctuated with the cost of wheat. During the first 

 three months the price ranged from 86.50 fS) S7 per barrel, rising in May 

 to $8, when a decline set in, which culminated in October at $6.25 ® 

 86.50 per barrel; a subsequent rise brought prices to 87.25 © $7.50. 

 Howard-street superfine opened at 84.25 ® 84.50 per barrel, declined 

 late in the summer to 83.75 © 84, and rose in December to $4.50 © 85. 

 Western extra opened at 84.50 ® $5.25, fell to 83.50 ® $4.25 late in the 

 season, and rose to $5.25 ® $5.50 in the middle of December. 



