MALT AND BEER IN SPANISH AMERICA. . 341 



NICARAGUA. 



MANAGUA. 

 REPORT BY CONSUL WILLS. 



I have to make the following estimated statement, derived from the 

 most reliable sources, in the absence of statistics, of which there are none 

 kept. Each merchant is charged with his gross weight of duties. Much 

 expense and time would be required to overlook each merchant's ac- 

 count at the custom-houses, to ascertain correctly the quantity of beer 

 each imported. All the merchants are importers of beer. 



MALT. 



There is not a brewery in Nicaragua, consequently malt is not im- 

 ported or locally prepared. 



BEER. 



Beer is imported from the United States and Germany only. The 

 imports from the United States are estimated at 1,200 barrels of ten 

 dozen half bottles each, costing from 90 cents to $1.10 a dozen. The gross 

 weight per barrel is 240 pounds ; duty, 2 cents per gross pound; mak- 

 ing $4.80 per barrel (gold $3.40) ; per dozen, 48 cents, (gold 34 cents). 

 The imports from Germany are estimated at 5,000 cases of six dozen half 

 bottles each, costing from 75 cents to $1.10 a dozen. The gross weight 

 per case is 160 pounds ; duty, 2 cents, making $3.20 per case (gold $2.30) ; 

 per dozen 53 cents (gold 38 cents). 



American beer is proportionately lighter in barrels than the German 

 in cases, consequently the duty is less. Freights are less from Ger- 

 many than the United States, and the advantage of exchange is in favor 

 of Germany ; exchange on Hamburg at sight is 35 J per cent; on 3Tew 

 York and San Francisco is 42 per cent. The prices of beer range about 

 the same in both countries from 75 cents to $1.10 per dozen for export 

 beer, which is the only kind imported, and only in bottles. American 

 beer is sold by the barrel at $27 to $30 (gold $19.28 to $21.42) ; by 

 the bottle at cantinas (bars) 40 cents (gold 28 cents). German beer is 

 sold by the case at $16 to $18 (gold $11.42 to $12.57), and by the 

 bottle the same as American beer. It is generally preferred in the 

 smaller quantities by families ; therefore the German has it in that 

 respect. 



1 have known some lots of poor beer sent from San Francisco, which 

 gave the American beer a set back. 



CHAS. H. WILLS, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Managua, February 21, 1890. 

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