Marketing and Markets 



389 



year to year seems to be conclusively shown by these 

 curves. From 1905 to 1911, the direction of the supply 

 and price curves is in exact opposition. In 1916 a marked 

 increase in both receipts and price is noted, due to the 

 greatly increased demand occasioned by war. 



The general demand for pork products exerts an im- 

 portant influence on the price of hogs from year to year. 



Fig. 17. — Curves showing the average annual price and supply of hogs 

 on the Chicago market from 1905 to 1916. 



The effect of the rapid increase in the population of the 

 country has been to reduce the per capita number of swine. 

 For many years there has been a steady and persistent 

 decline in the number of swine per capita of the popula- 

 tion. In 1840 it was 1.54 hogs per capita, and in 1910, .75. 

 The effect of this growing shortage is in the direction of 

 higher prices. 



