612 The Report of the Select Committee on the Hop Industry. 
successive periods. In fact, since 1867, the import of foreign 
hops lias been maintained at about one-fourth of the total con- 
sumption, increasing when the home crop has been small, and 
decreasing when there has been an abundant crop. Thus, in 
1882, when there was almost a total failure in England, and 
when the price rose to a very high hgure, the foreign imports 
reached the amount of 305,000 cwt., and in 1886, when there 
was a most abundant crop in England, the foreign supplies fell 
below 100,000 cwt." 
Although it does not materially affect the conclusions of the 
Committee, it must be pointed out that their figures with regard 
to the imports of foreign hops are not quite correct. According to 
the returns of the Board of Trade the annual average quantity of 
hops imported from foreign countries during the last twenty-one 
years is close upon 190,000 cwt., instead of 177,000 cwt., as shown 
by the foregoing table. 
In 1882, for example, the foreign imports were 319,620 cwt., 
and 153,759 cwt. were imported in 1886, as shown by the returns 
of the Board of Trade. 
From the evidence given by brewers and hop-merchants, and 
from the statistics laid before the Committee, it is stated that 
foreign importation has not been the sole cause, nor even the main 
cause, of the depression in the hop industry. 
The general depression of trade affected the demand for beer 
and the consumption of malt, and saccharine substitutes for malt, 
and hops. In 1878 the total quantity of sugar and malt used 
by brewers was equal to S,020,955 quarters, while in 1883 only 
7,016,922 quarters were consumed, and in 1886 only 7,058,495. 
Since trade has improved there has been an increase in the con- 
sumption of malt and sugar. As an instance of this improvement, 
7,760,823 quarters of malt and sugar were required by the brewers 
in 1889. 
Another reason for the diminution in the demand for hops is 
alleged by the Committee to be a considerable economy in the use 
of hops since 1882, when there was a hop famine, and prices were 
higher than they have ever been. In the words of the report :— 
" The very high price of hops in 1882 induced brewers to turn 
their attention more closely to the subject, and science was brought 
in aid of the manufacture of beer. It was found possible by the 
use of ice to brew continuously t hrough the year ; the consumption 
of beer became more rapid ; it was no longer necessary to keep 
large stocks of beer for many months ; the taste of the public altered, 
a higher quality of beer less heavily hopped is now preferred. As 
a result of these changes the proportion of hops used to a quarter 
of malt has been reduced to an amount generally estimated at 
H lb. per quarter of malt, or 15 per cent. When there is added 
to this the reduction due to a reduced consumption of malt, esti- 
mated at 12 per cent., the two together account for a largely 
reduced demand, and consequently for a fall of prices ; it was t<> 
be expected, therefore, that there would be a reduced cultivation 
