334 MALT AND BEER TN SPANISH AMERICA. 



MATAMOROS. 



REPORT BY VICE-CONSUL VALLS. 

 MALT. 



The imports of malt in this consular district are insignificant, 

 scarcely averaging five hundred bushels annually. It is imported from 

 New Orleans and Galveston. Its use here is confined to bakers and 

 druggists. 



The Mexican duty on malt is 5 cents per kilogram. The cost of im- 

 ported malt in this market is now $1.35, United States currency, per 

 bushel. 



The imports of beer in this district amount yearly to 1,400 barrels (of 

 ten dozen pints each) ; of this amount 1,200 barrels come from Milwau- 

 kee and 200 from St. Louis. Beer is imported here solely in pint bot 

 ties, and the kind most suited for local consumption is the lager beer, 

 known as Pilsener. Shipments are always made in car-load lots, and 

 in bond to obtain the drawback of 37 cents per barrel conceded by the 

 United States Government. 



The following are the details concerning prices, duties, expenses, and 

 cost: 



Cost in Milwaukee of 1 barrel beer (10 dozen pints) $8 to $8.50 .............. $8. 50 



Freight by rail from Milwaukee to New Orleans (car-load rates) .............. 86 



Freight per Morgan Steam-ship Line from New Orleans to Brownsville, Tex.. 1. 28 

 Drayage and ferriage from Brownsville to Matamoros, Mexico ............... 08 



Custom-house entries and broker, Brownsville and Matamoros ............... .09 



(The Mexican Custom-house considers the net weight of one barrel beer 

 10 dozen pints as 44 kilograms ; duties, 20 cents per kilogram, $8.80.)* 

 The Zona libre duty is 3 per centum on $8.80 ......................... $0. 2640 



The stamp duty is 8 per centum on $8.80 .............................. 7040 



0. 9680 



Nine thousand six hundred and eighty ten-thousandths Mexican coin at 75 

 cents 73 



Cost of one barrel beer in Matamoros (United States currency) 11. 54 



The American beers have entirely superseded the foreign article. 

 During the past eight years not a bottle of foreign beer has been sold 

 in this market. 



Beer is now sold at $16.50, Mexican coin, per barrel ; equivalent to 

 $12.38, United States currency. 



JOHN F. VALLS, 



Vice- Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Matamoros, January 24, 1890. 



* Matamoros is in the Zona libre, consequently the beer imported thereinto does not 

 pay this $8.80 per barrel duty. Noie by Department. 



