172 THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 



merchants importing Malaga raisins from New York confine themselves 

 to London layers and others of the best and choicest quality, leaving 

 the home market to be cared for, in a great measure, by those of our 

 own production. As a result, raisins have ruled low all the winter, 

 and are likely to do so for a long time to come. ' ' 



1878. In 1878 several carloads of California raisins were sent to 

 Chicago, New York and Boston, and were well received by the trade. 

 In October of that year, California layers were bringing $2.50 and 

 $3.25. Imports had fallen away more than forty per cent from the fig- 

 ures of 1874. 



1879. In 1879 the ruling prices for California raisins, in lots of 250 

 boxes and upwards, were: Common layers, $2.00 for wholes, $2.25 for 

 halves, $2.50 for quarters, #3.00 for eighths; London layers, $2.25 to 

 $2.50 for wholes, $2.50 to $2.75 for halves, $2.75 to $3.00 for quarters, 

 $3.25 to $3.50 for eighths. 



1880. In October, 1880, the following quotations were made: 

 Briggs' layers, $2.00 and $2.75 per box. California raisins, in lots of 

 250 boxes and upwards, common layers, $2.50 and $2.25 per box; Lon- 

 don layers, $2.50 per box. 



1881. In November of 1881, Malaga ruled high in the East, and 

 in consequence prices were generally higher here, quotations for the 

 California article running $2.50 for wholes, $2.75 for halves, $3.00 for 

 quarters, and $3.25 for eighths, in lots of one hundred boxes. London 

 layers, twenty-five cents per box more. 



1882. In 1882 prices ran $2.37^ and $2.75. During all the period 

 just reviewed, the duty was two and a half cents per pound on raisins; 

 but in March, 1883, the duty was reduced to two cents, and yet impor- 

 tations for that year were only 633 boxes, a rather singular fact. The 

 reduction in duty does not seem to have had a very bad effect on prices, 

 because, as is easily evident from the small importation, no competition 

 to speak of was encountered in the local market, and, as in that year 

 the imports at New York from Spain were many thousands of boxes 

 short, Eastern competition was reduced to a minimum. Prices here 

 ruled through the year at an average of from seven to eight cents a 

 pound, anything especially choice bringing better prices. 



1883. In 1883 California made a big stride forward in packing and 

 curing, and fancy raisins were put up in layers and cartoons. The 

 Dehesa brand and other fancy brands made their appearance, and as 

 high as one dollar was paid for quarters of five pounds each, and T. C. 

 White's and Miss Austin's brands became famous. 



1884. In 1884, the year following that in which the duty was 

 reduced to two cents, the following prices prevailed: 



In January the following quotations are recorded: Malaga layers, 

 $3.50 for wholes, $5.00 for halves, and $5.50 for quarters in frames. 

 Valencia raisins, fifteen cents per pound. Loose Muscatels, $1.60. 

 London layers, $4.00. Briggs, wholes $2.50, usual advance of twenty- 

 five cents on fractions. Blowers, wholes $ , quarters $3.50, eighths 



$3-75- Other raisins, $2.50 in large lots; quarter and eighth boxes 

 twenty-five cents higher. 



