216 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



crease of facilities of transportation has increased the number of green 

 hides marketed, and tanners are annually taking a larger number of the 

 latter. A large part of the Texas hides received at this market are now 

 green, while the dry hides from the region penetrated by the Union 

 Pacific Eailroad are being replaced by green ones. The latter also 

 come from the regions around Lake Saperor. Many light hides are 

 shipped from the West by way of Cincinunati to Boston. Dry flint hides 

 averaged 14.3 cents per pound, against 17.5 cents the previous year. The 

 receipts by river and rail were 188,808 pieces, and 272,521 pounds, against 

 177,525 pieces, and 213,812 pounds the previous year; shipments, 144,214 

 pieces and 40,300 pounds, against 128,901 pieces and 102,720 pounds. 



Sheep. — Receipts 355,848 head, an increase of 82,746, or 30 per cent. ; 

 shipments, 278,320, an increase of 106,313, or nearly G2 per cent. The 

 quality of the animals marketed was about equal to those of the pre- 

 vious year. The demand was fair and ])rices somewhat lower. At the 

 opening of the year prime stock was quoted at $4.25 per cental, gross, 

 with a gradual advance to $G, the maximum, in March ; then a decline 

 commenced, and the minimum, $3.75, was reached in July ; the year 

 closed at $4. The average quotation for the year was $4.75 per cental, 

 gross, against $4.89 in 1874-'75 and $4.50 in 1873-74. The receipts and 

 shipments of sheep during the last nineteen commercial years were as 

 follows : 



The average gross weight per head of sheep at the stock-3'ards was 

 80.9 pounds, against 81.04 the previous year. 



The above figures show a great increase both in the consuming and 

 the distributive trade. Cincinnati has become one of the leading sheep- 

 markets of the country, being surpassed in the extent of its business 

 only by New York and Chicago. 



Sheep products — Wool. — The business of the commercial year 1875-'76 

 was more satisfactory than that of any previous year. The receipts and 

 shipments show smaller aggregates; but this is irom a decline in the 

 through shipments, which do not properly belong to the business of this 

 point. The year ©pened with a fair demand, whicli continued till Ko- 

 vember, when the market became depressed, and decline, dullness, and 

 doubt characterized the winter trade. Large auction sales of woolen 

 goods unsettled values, so that it was ditlicult to make quotations. 

 Prices went down to 8 and 10 cents per pound, and even then were 

 mainly nominal. Manufacturers whose necessities compelled them to 

 keep their machinery in motion purchased sparingly, and only for imme- 

 diate consumption. Several large eastern manufacturers failed and 

 involved some western traders in their fall, though none of these were 

 in Cincinnati. This state of things, inducing great caution, resulted in 

 low prices for the raw material. In May, Ohio fleece, washed, paid the 

 producers only 27 © 28 cents per pound, a decline of 10 cents from the 

 opening of the cominercial year. During tiie war this fleece had com- 

 manded $1, and so late as 1871-'72 brought 75 cents. But these low 



