340 MALT AND BEER IN SPANISH AMERICA. 



HONDURAS. 



REPORT BY CONSULAR AGENT SEYMOUR, OF PUERTO OORTEZ. 

 MALT. 



There is no inalt manufactured or imported into this country, as there 

 are no breweries to consume same ; the duties chargeable on same, how- 

 ever, according to the custom-house regulations, is $3.24 per 100 pounds. 



BEER. 



The beer imported into this district, i. e., through Puerto Cortez, dur- 

 ing the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, amounted to about 5,000 dozen 

 pints. There is no beer imported into this country in the wood. 



The duty on one dozen pints of beer in bottles amounts to 60 cents, 

 American money. 



Beer by the barrel, i. e., of ten dozen pints, wholesales in this port for 

 from $15 to $17, United States coin. 



The importation is increasing yearly, the United States furnishing 

 about one-half, Germany one-third, and English stout and ale perhaps 

 covering the other one-sixth. 



German beer by my own personal observation as a merchant will keep 

 better in this climate than any of our American brands, being better 

 corked and Vith a heavier tin-foil cover over the cork, which, besides 

 being attractive, seems to keep ants and wood lice from eating out the 

 cork, of which they are very fond, and thereby destroying the contents. 



The German salso pack their goods in cases, which are more easily 

 handled, and the breakage thereby is nil. 



The American exporters could improve even on the Germans by pack- 

 ing their products in cases of 100 pounds each. 



Goods intended for the interior of this country have to be transported 

 from the coast on mule-back, and as 200 pounds is considered a cargo, 

 it is manifest that two boxes of 100 pounds each would be taken in 

 preference of one of double its weight or a barrel of 250 pounds, which 

 must be repacked here into smaller cases. 



The subject of the packing of goods for export from the United States 

 to this country is pertinent to all branches of business, and one 1 of the 

 greatest complaints about American manufactured goods is that "they 

 are not packed to suit." 



HENRY SEYMOUR, 



Consular Agent. 



UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY, 



Puerto Cortez, February 25, 1890. 



