STUDIES IN EGG-MARKETING 803 



statistics show a tendency toward greater uniformity in prices the 

 year around. 



The average price per dozen of fresh eggs in New York dur- 

 ing the surplus seasons of the period 1 880-1 890 was 15^ cents 

 as compared with I7| for the period 1900-19 10, as shown by 

 Mr. Urner, in his testimony before the United States Senate 

 Committee on Manufactures. During the seasons of scarcity the 

 average price during the former period was 26| cents and during 

 the latter period, 29-I cents. Regarding the last-named figures, 

 Mr. Urner declares, however, that the average price of eggs in 

 the season of scarcity would also be lower in 1900-19 10 as com- 

 pared with that of 1 880-1 890 if we take the average of freshly 

 gathered and storage eggs. The conclusion that fluctuations in 

 egg prices have been lessened since the introduction of cold- 

 storage facilities has also been reached by the Massachusetts 

 Commission appointed in 191 1 to investigate the cold storage of 

 food. From a study of the Boston market for the above periods 

 they find that the average of the extreme fluctuations measured 

 from the highest point to the lowest point in each year was a 

 little lower for 1900-1910 than for 1880-1890. A similar con- 

 clusion was also reached in the investigation of the federal gov- 

 ernment as revealed in the report of the Secretary of Agriculture 

 for 191 1. 



While fluctuations have thus been lessened, it appears that the 

 annual price level of eggs during the decade 1900-19 10 was a 

 little higher than during the decade 1880-1890. This fact is 

 explained by the Massachusetts Commission as due to certain 

 other peculiar conditions affecting the egg market and is not to 

 be attributed to the existence of cold storage. 



While improvements have thus been made in the distribution 

 of the egg supply, the real significance of the change has not 

 become apparent to the average consumer. The questionable 

 condition of eggs stored under the early method seems to have 

 created a prejudice against cold-storage eggs which it is diflficult 

 to remove even after the system of storage has been radically 

 changed. At no time was this prejudice more apparent than 

 during the general crash in egg prices in the spring of 19 10. 



