14 



N. H. Agri. Experiment Station 



[Bui. 300 



eggs and opportunities for direct sale in the summer account for the 

 largest part of the change between low and high months. 



METHODS OF SALE 



Although the New Hampshire Egg Auction was set up primarily to 

 use the auction method, it has sold eggs in other ways in order to meet 

 the needs of its customers and to realize the best returns for its members. 



"On Sale" eggs are those sold to the highest bidder at the regular auc- 

 tion sales held twice each week, and include sales to both telephone 

 bidders and those buying "in person". "Off Sale" eggs are sold between 

 regular auction sales at prices based on the previous auction sale with 

 allowance for any price changes occurring since that time. 



During the representative months of January, April, July and Octo- 

 ber over a period of two years, monthly averages of from 9 to 46 per cent 

 01 the eggs were sold "off sale". See Fig. 5 for percentages sold off and 

 on sale for ten different months in the period July, 1934 — October, 1936. 



Three important reasons may be offered for making sales of eggs by 

 other than the auction method. 



1. Volume was so large at times as to make it impossible to sell all 

 eggs to advantage on auction sales. 



Regularity of Egg Shipments ias Indicated by the Number of Months in 



Which Various Numbers of Producers Shipped Eggs in 1935 



to the New Hampshire Egg Auction 



(Includes only shippers who were active previous to January, 1935) 



€0t— 



NO.MOMTHvf' INUl^lCl^tn^lPMENTrirEllE 

 MADE IN f9^& 



Figure 4. Because of many market outlets, including hatching egg 

 sales, many producers are irregular shippers to the auction. Of that 

 group active before January 1, 1935, scarcely half made shipments in 

 six or more months in the rear. 



