103 



and after some recovery fell seriously in November — hard fine selling 

 down to $s. 4d. } fine soft $s., scrappy 2s. 8f., Cameta is. io\d., ball 

 2s. yd. In early December there was a recovery of 4d. in fine, 2d. 

 per lb. on other qualities, but at the close our quotations are lower — 

 fine hard $s. $d., soft 3^. 2d., Negrohead scrappy 2s. iod., Cameta 

 2S. o\d., Island (scarce) about 2s., Caucho ball 2s. gd., showing a fall 

 in value for the twelve months of is. g\d. on fine, is. i\d. on 

 Negrohead. Soft cure has been abundant, and during recent 

 months the value receded from the former difference of 2d. on hard, 

 to \d., whilst soft entrefine has been most difficult of sale at a 

 serious reduction. Balata was in regular supply. Sheet advanced 

 to 2S. 6\d., but closes at 2s. 2\d. Block was up to is. lid., closing 

 at is. 6^d. Gutta-percha sold slowly during the year at moderate 

 prices. 



The price of fine hard Para since our last weekly report has tended 

 downwards, from 3.?. 5^. for week ending December 27th to 3s. $d. 

 on January 3rd, and 3.?. /\d. on January 10th. 



At the auctions on the last date considerable supplies were brought 

 forward, but a very small part sold. Good sheets and pale crepe 

 Plantation were 2d. per lb. lower. Fair to fine Malay sheet sold at 

 3s. i\d. to 3s. gd., and crepe at 3s. Sd. to 4s. lo'^d. : 40 lb. very fine 

 white, however, realised 4s. ^d. Superior pale Ceylon biscuits 

 fetched 4s. i\d. to 4s. 2d., and fair to good sheets and biscuits, 3s. yd. 

 to 3J. 8|</. Fine pale crepe sold up to 2>s. nd. 



Rubber statistics for the month of December (in tons) : — 



Para. Caucho 1907. 1906. 1905. 1904. 



Receipts at Para ... 2,250 310 = 2,560 agst. 2,610 3,270 3,390 



Shipments to Europe ... 1,320 260 = 1,580 1,09c 1,460 1,110 

 ,, America ... 890 10 = 900 1,970 1,540 2,685 



Crop statistics, June 30 to December 3 1 : — 



Para. Caucho. 1907. 1906. 1905. 1904. 



Para Receipts [ ^07 ••• 12,540 1,700 J I4J20 ^ 6gQ ^ ^ 



Shipts., Europe 6,710 1,480 8,190 6,630 8,324 5,905 



America 5, 510 200 5,710 7,820 5,845 7,400 



Tropical Life, " January, igo8. 



