STUDIES IN EGG-MARKETING 815 



likewise increased during these years. The largest business each 

 year is during the spring months, and the smallest, during the 

 fall. The highest point is reached in either April or May, while 

 the lowest has invariably occurred in November. The regularity 

 in relative changes from season to season as well as the increase 

 in business from year to year is shown in Diagram II. The 

 average price per dozen paid to the farmer each month has also 

 varied somewhat regularly from season to season, the highest 

 point being reached in December, while the lowest price came 

 during the surplus season in the spring. This is shown graphi- 

 cally in Diagram III. The positions of two curves, one showing 

 the relative proportions of eggs shipped and the other indicating 

 the relative amounts paid to farmers each month, are presented 

 in Diagram IV. This brings out very strikingly the juxtaposi- 

 tion of high prices and low shipments in the late fall as well 

 as that of low prices and surplus supplies in the spring. 



Where the local farmer is paid 21 cents a dozen, the local 

 buyer sells in Duluth to retailers for 23 cents. The Duluth 

 retailer pays the express charges which approximate 1 cent a 

 dozen. The local margin of 2 cents consists of 1 cent per 

 dozen charged by the creamery man for handling and I cent 

 for the cost of cartons and rented cases. The retailer in Duluth 

 buying at 23 cents sells for 29 cents. His margin of 6 cents 

 includes 1 cent for express, leaving 5 cents for handling. These 

 eggs sell in Duluth for 5 cents more than the market price 

 during at least nine months in the year. 



Besides shipping to retailers the creamery man has also secured 

 a certain amount of first-class hotel trade. During the spring 

 season surplus shipments have been made to Eastern markets 

 at top prices. 



Previous to 1908 whatever eggs were brought to this town 

 were taken in trade by country merchants. Since that time 

 farmers have been receiving cash. Payment is made by checks 

 drawn on the local bank. When the egg-buying was first taken 

 up by the creamery, the merchants feared that such handling 

 of eggs with cash payment would injure their business and lead 

 farmers to patronize catalogue houses. To allay such fears the 



