COMMERCE IN MAIZE GRAIN 575 



the muid of 200 lbs. The muid bag of 203 lbs. gross (200 lbs. CHAP, 

 net) seems to be the most satisfactory, all things considered. XI1 ' 



532. Bulk Handling. — The value of bulk over bag ship- 

 ment appears to depend on three factors, viz. : (1) Saving in 

 cost of bag charges to the farmer, inasmuch as he can use the 

 same bags over again ; (2) reduced cost of shipment, resulting 

 in lower rates, due to saving of time at each end of the voyage, 

 in loading and unloading the cargo ; cargo entirely bulked 

 does not fetch quite as much as a cargo in bags, but this is 

 because the value of the bags is always calculated very 

 carefully by importers in offering a price ; bulk shipment un- 

 doubtedly facilitates the loading and unloading of the vessels ; 

 (3) greater uniformity in cargo, slight variations being evened 

 up in the bulk. 



Odessa, and other Russian and Danubian maize, is almost 

 invariably shipped in bulk ; so is North American. Argentine 

 maize is shipped in three ways : in bulk, in bags, and some- 

 times part bulked and part bagged, but most of it is exported 

 in bulk. 



Sir Thomas Price found that the greater part of the Euro- 

 pean trade was in favour of bulk shipment from South Africa. 

 The reasons advanced were : the greater expedition in dis- 

 charging ; lesser cost of handling; better arrangements for and 

 accuracy in weighing ; and the dislike there is in many quarters 

 to a bag of a special description (such as that used by South 

 Africa) which differs in size, and in fastening at the mouth, 

 from the bags which are common in the grain trade at the 

 ports of Great Britain and on the Continent. 



Bulk shipment means the minimum of cost in handling, the 

 cheapest transport, and, what is perhaps of most consequence, 

 it ensures that the grain will be placed on the purchasing 

 market according to sample. The conclusion arrived at by 

 Sir Thomas Price is that " it would be an advantage to South 

 Africa to ship in bulk, but before any decision is taken or 

 expense incurred in making facilities for so doing, it would 

 be well to ascertain whether the shipping companies would 

 be prepared to ship in bulk, or whether the apparatus to be 

 provided at the ports should be suitable for dealing with 

 bags as well as bulk until such time as the steamship com- 

 panies can be induced to resort to bulk loading, as is becom- 



