APPLE MARKET INVESTIGATIONS, 1914-15. 19 
until the fall of 1913, when an exporter shipped 13,000 boxes to 
Buenos Aires via New York and, a little later, 9,000 boxes via the 
Straits of Magellan. 
An early opportunity was secured to dispose of the 22,000 boxes 
at a profit of about 40 cents a box, but a large proportion of the con- 
signment was held too long, resulting in a loss to the shipper on the 
transaction as a whole. The same shipper, however, is now pre- 
paring for further shipments to South America early in the coming 
season, for the handling of which arrangements have already been 
made. 
During the past year a New York firm of distributors sent a repre- 
sentative to study the South American markets and make trade 
connections for direct handling. This firm formerly had sold apples 
and other products to New York exporters. 
The representative spent two months in South America, but met 
with considerable difficulty in interesting the importers, who, it 
appeared, were very well pleased with their trade connections in 
the United States. Contracts for the sale of approximately 9,000 
boxes for fall delivery were secured eventually, and agents appointed 
in Buenos Aires. Sales were arranged upon easy terms, but when 
deliveries were made only 1,600 boxes were accepted, the balance of 
the shipment being sold by the commission agent. Thereafter regular 
consignments to this market were made for the purpose of supplying 
the demand independently of the importers who formerly had con- 
trolled the handling of this commodity. Much of the fruit has been 
sold at auction, circulars being previously distributed among small 
dealers, hotels, restaurants, etc. On March 3, 1915, 5,000 boxes of 
apples were sold in this manner. 
It is not known just what the future results of these experiments 
may be. Itis thought by those who have had the longest experience 
with South American importers that these markets can be developed 
best by handling the business in a manner most acceptable to the 
dealers. Attention is called to the fact that the importers have been 
accustomed to supply their markets by placing orders judiciously 
and receiving only such stock as has been bought previously. The 
consignment of apples, therefore, is severely discouraged by them, 
and it would appear from the experience of the past two years that 
those shippers who have endeavored to secure this trade by over- 
stepping Latin customs have not been entirely successful in their 
ventures. 
It is understood that formerly the margins of gross profits have 
been very large. Owing to the risks involved, it is only to be expected 
that this business could not be handled upon margins that might 
prevail in the United States or between the United States and 
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