IX, A, 2 



Pratt: Coconut and its Products 



183 



The following rates prevailing one day in December, 1913, 

 will give an idea of the differences in value. 



Table II. — Prices paid for various grades of copra. 



Grade. 



Rupees 



per 

 candy. 



Pesos per 

 ton. 



Kalpentyn 



Estate _. 



Maravila (ordinary) 

 Cart 



97.25 

 96-97. 25 

 95-97 

 87-95 



259 

 256-259 

 253-258 

 232-253 



It is interesting to compare these various grades with the 

 terms employed for Philippine copra. The best quality pro- 

 duced in these Islands is known as "Samar sundried." It com- 

 mands good prices, but is practically all used locally for the 

 production of oil and is consequently not included in newspaper 

 quotations. "Cebu sundried" commands top market prices in 

 the public quotations, followed by "F. M. M." (fair merchant- 

 able Manila) . "Laguna" is frequently made from green nuts, 

 is dried over smoky fires resulting from burning husks, and 

 often molds before reaching the market. 



The large Ceylon estates submit samples of their copra to 

 the brokers of exporting firms, while small dealers bring their 

 product in native cadjan boats from the Low Country, where 

 it has been collected in small lots and shipped to the market. 

 This water route is via the Kelani River and the canal passing 

 through Negombo, Marawella, Chilaw, and Puttalam, these being 

 the principal coconut centers of Ceylon. 



The Grandpass Market, situated on the banks of the canal 

 and a few kilometers from the fort at Colombo, is the principal 

 market. Copra is here bought and sold every morning. Ex- 

 pert native brokers are employed by the exporting houses, and 

 bid on the copra offered, generally on a commission basis. 

 Much experience and tact is necessary in estimating the value 

 of the copra thus offered and in purchasing as desired, for com- 

 petition is very keen and margins are small. Ceylon copra is 

 ranked as second in quality only to that of Cochin and the 

 Malabar coast, and is quoted at about 20 pesos less per ton. 

 However, it is generally believed by Ceylon producers that the 

 best grades of their white oil eventually reach the consumer in 

 large quantities as Cochin oil. 



