REPORTS OF STORAGE HOLDINGS. 3 



The present bulletin reviews the reports received during 1918 on 

 the storage holdings of frozen and cured meats, lard, frozen fish, cured 

 herring, and mild cured salmon. A series of tables shows the frozen 

 and cured meat holdings at the peak load of the season for that com- 

 modity, segregated by sections. These tables include the number of 

 storages reporting for a certain date in each geographical section, and 

 the holdings of these firms. They also furnish comparisons between 

 the stocks reported on these dates with the stocks reported for the 

 same dates of the previous year. The comparison is based on the 

 storages reporting for both dates. 



For each variety of meat products and fish, another table shows 

 the holdings of each month on the date of reporting and the relation, 

 expressed in percentage, of the holdings of each month to the peak 

 load of the season and the increase or decrease during each month, 

 both in actual number of pounds and in percentage. The holdings 

 in these tables are based on the actual number of pounds reported, 

 plus an estimate of the stocks of the storages that failed to report. 

 The estimates of the stocks of the unreported firms are based on their 

 holdings reported for the preceding month. It is assumed that the 

 percentage of increase or decrease in their stocks was the same as the 

 percentage of increase or decrease in the stocks of the storages that 

 reported. The unreported stocks in any month never amount to 

 more than 1 per cent of the total holdings, bi *. 



Another series of tables shows the quantities reported and the 

 comparison of the holdings of each month with those of the same 

 date in the preceding year. This comparison also is based, in each 

 case, on the storages reporting for both dates. 



Two series of charts are included in this bulletin. One series shows 

 graphically the comparative monthly holdings during 1918, based on 

 the tables of monthly holdings, including estimates. The other series 

 covers meats only, showing graphically the relative monthly holdings 

 lor the years 1916 to 1918, inclusive. 



Each chart in this latter series shows the relation, expressed in 

 percentage, of each month's holdings of the particular commodity to 

 the peak load holdings of the entire three years. They are based on 

 the monthly increases and decreases as compiled in the regular monthly 

 reports of the Bureau of Markets. In making such comparisons the 

 reports of those firms having no holdings on one of the dates compared 

 are included. If a firm begins business or ceases business in the inter- 

 vening period, it is included in the comparison as having no holdings 

 on the date on which it is not in business. 



