24 BULLETIN 979, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
both instances amounts to about 10 per cent or 15 per cent of all hay 
shipped. 
Trade associations have made numerous regulations designed to 
eliminate these unfair practices between shippers and buyers, but 
lack of enforcement authority and of an impartial agency to deter- 
mine grades seems to be the principal cause of their inability to 
eliminate them. From its experience in the regulation of the inspec- 
tion of grain and cotton, the Bureau of Markets believes that Federal 
inspection of hay made available to the interested parties in any con- 
troversy concerning grades would overcome many of the present dif- 
ficulties and eliminate many of the heavy losses which are ultimately 
added to the cost of marketing. 
The terminal markets are not free from practices which are fre- 
quently very unsatisfactory to shippers and buyers using them, but 
these will be discussed in describing the methods of marketing hay at 
terminal markets. 
DEALERS IN TERMINAL MARKETS. 
While the general methods of handling hay at the various ter- 
minal markets are similar, there are many practices that are peculiar 
to certain markets. 
CLASSES OF DEALERS. 
Dealers operating at terminal markets may generally be classed as 
brokers, commission men, receivers, and shippers. There is no 
sharply denned line between the various classes, however, for the 
reason that many dealers conduct their business in such a way as to 
place them in two or more classes at the same time. For example, 
it is frequently the case that brokers are also commission merchants, 
or commission merchants are also receivers and shippers, or, again, 
receivers are also shippers. The term " distributors " is sometimes 
applied to that class of dealers designated as shippers to distinguish 
them from country shippers. 
Beokers. 
Brokers operate usually in large consuming sections, but some are 
also located in other markets. Their business is primarily to sell hay 
as direct local representatives of the shipper. The activities of the 
broker in distributing markets in behalf of the country shipper have 
already been described, and the business of the broker in other mar- 
kets is conducted in practically the same manner. 
Commission Merchants. 
There is considerable difference between brokers and commission 
merchants in most markets, and the services rendered are quite dif- 
