WOOLLEN (iOOUS. 



Ill settling the question of cost of production of goods, and for explaining 

 more clearly the commercial side of the industry, the data, showing the tlnctuations 

 in the price of raw wool and woollen yarn in Russia, will be found useful. Prices 

 of wool per poud have undergone the following changes during thi' late years: 



From these data it is seen: 1. that in Moscow the highest prices for Spanish 

 wool were, in 1879 to 1880, 11 to 14 roubles per poud, unsecured, 18 to 24 roubles, 

 rectified, and 35 to 45 roubles, scoured; 2. that from 1880 to 1886 and 1888 they 

 constantly fell and quickly rose for a time; 3. that after the temporary improve- 

 ment started, the fall in the price again commenced, continuing up to the present 

 time. The prices of Eussian common wool fluctuated with those of Spanish wools, 

 as is evident from the foregoing table; the highest price was in 1880, after whicli 

 it fell until 1886, and after a three years rise, 1886 to 1888, again began to fall. 

 The caiises of the fall in price of Eussian- wool, which seriously affects the interests 

 of the Eussian sheep farming, are various, the prices being dependent upon tlie 

 condition of sheep farming itself, upon the demand not only of Eussian, but of 



* According to quotations on the Mosco-w Exchange. 

 ** From data given by a large French wool-combing manufactory. 



