22 BULLETIN 979, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



entirely with the buyer. When the shipper sells destination terms 

 he is bound to allow any claims made by the receiver which are prop- 

 erly supported by weight and inspection certificate or by an affidavit 

 by the receiver as to the outturn weights and grades. If there is a 

 loss in weight and the amount indicates that the loss was probably 

 caused in transit the shipper must handle any claim which is made, 

 whereas if the ha}^ has been sold " shipper's track " the responsibility 

 of presenting the claim rests with the receiver. 



Another term " shipper's weights and grades guaranteed " is some- 

 times used which although it sounds better to the shipper, means 

 practically the same thing. If the shipper guarantees his weights 

 and grades it must be to the satisfaction of the buyer. It is evident 

 that if no unfair practices are indulged in by either the shipper or 

 receiver there is no good reason why " shipper's weights and grades " 

 should not be as reliable as destination weights and grades, especially 

 if both receivers and shippers use their own judgment as to grades 

 and have the same or similar weighing facilities. 



Market Weights and Geades. 



Hay shipped to or from a terminal market which maintains, official 

 weighing and inspection departments is generally sold " market 

 weights and grades" as determined at that market. For example, 

 hay sent by a country shipper to a dealer in Kansas City is sold on 

 weights and grades determined there. The same thing is true on hay 

 bought from Kansas City. 



In support of the practice of requiring both the shipper and buyer 

 to accept the official weights and grades of any specified market, as 

 final, dealers in terminal markets advance the argument that be- 

 cause both the weighing and inspection departments are main- 

 tained as impartial but qualified agencies, their findings as to weights 

 and grades are generally considered more dependable than those of 

 either an individual shipper or buyer. Many shippers and receivers 

 do not agree with this claim. 



However, from a survey made by the Federal Bureau of 

 Markets, it appears that considerable effort is being' made in many 

 of the principal markets to maintain reliable and efficient weighing 

 and inspection services. While these services are not perfect most 

 of the difficulty experienced by shippers at the terminal markets is 

 apparently caused by the sharp practices of some of the dealers 

 rather than by inadequate facilities. This is also true of many of 

 the difficulties between country shippers and buyers in consuming 

 territories. 



SHARP PRACTICES. 



Certain unfair practices are carried on by some country shippers. 

 The most common of these is the " plugging " of cars. This prac- 



