240 



Warsaw Wool Fair. 



contrary, the price paid in each separate transaction is gene- 

 rally based on the price which was obtained for the wool 

 from that particular farm in the preceding year, to which is 

 added or from which is deducted the average fall or rise of 

 prices at the fair. The reason of this lies in the importance 

 which is attached by manufacturers to buying wool of the 

 same origin, and it has been frequently noticed that buyers 

 deal year after year with the same producers. In the absence 

 of a standard according to which wool brought to the fair 

 would have to be classified, which would greatly facilitate 

 transactions, the origin of the wool is practically the only 

 guarantee of its quality to the buyer. 



The fair is held under Government superintendence, the 

 regulations as to the conduct of the fair, and the wool sold 

 thereat, being very strict. The wool, before being brought 

 to the fair, has to be examined, and a certificate signed by 

 the head of the village or burgomaster has to be produced, 

 to the effect that the wool is from sheep in good health, and 

 that there were not any diseased sheep or cattle on the same 

 pasture ground with these sheep at the time of shearing. 



The fair attracts many foreign as well as local buyers. 



Steamboat Service from Denmark to England. 



From a Foreign Office Report on Bounties on Shipping 

 and Preferential Railway Rates it appears that there are 

 two subsidised lines of steamers from Denmark to England. 

 The line from Esbjerg to Parkeston is given a grant propor- 

 tional to the lower rates charged by the company- on the 

 freight of dairy produce and fish transported to England. 

 This grant in 1896-97 amounted to 10,404. Since Sep- 

 tember, 1897, a grant has been made to the United Steam- 

 ship Company of Denmark for establishing a bi-weekly 

 service for the carriage of dairy produce between Esbjerg 

 and Grimsby, destined for the Midland markets of England. 



For this purpose a grant of 75,000 kroner {£4,166) was 

 voted in the current year's budget. 



