70 EGYPTIAN EGG TRADE. 
trade of Egypt. This branch of the export trade has, it 
would appear, been in existence for about five years, and 
last season’s export amounted to about 30,000 boxes, each 
containing 1,440 eggs, whilst this season’s export is expected 
to amount to 50,000 boxes. The season lasts from the 
beginning of December until the end of March. The eggs 
come principally from the provinces of Upper Egypt— 
Keneh, Girgeh, Assiout, and Fayoum, the latter of which 
supplies the best kind of eggs. The eggs of Lower Egypt 
are much larger than those of Upper Egypt, the latter being 
very small. ‘The eggs are collected in the villages by native 
middlemen, who dispose of them to exporters in Cairs in 
parcels ot 100,000 and upwards. The eggs are carefully 
dried and packed in wooden boxes—1,440 in each box. 
Owing to the scarcity and consequent dearness of wood in 
Egypt, the whole of the packing material has to be imported 
from Europe. When packed, the boxes of eggs are 
despatched by rail in closed waggons to Alexandria for — 
shipment. About one-half of the exports are Seneece 
Liverpool by cargo steamers, the passage taking about 12 
days. Considerable quantities are sent to France, especially 
at the beginning of the season, and there is also an export 
trade to Austria. 
The eggs are used chiefly tor industrial purposes—biscuit 
making, &c. Prices in London and Liverpool varv from 43s. 
to) 87s. per. box, the average being 4S, CO 55 @ssameere 
price at which the eggs are bought in Egypt varies according 
to the market in Europe, and under especially favourable 
circumstances has reached 150 piastres (say 30s. 6d.) per 
1,000, but at other times they have only fetched half this 
amount. — 
Business in Cairo is in the hands of two large firms, one of 
them being German; and in Alexandria five large and a 
number of smaller houses are engaged in the trade. 
According to the Customs statistics, in which eggs were 
separately distinguished for the first time in 1£07, the total 
exports in 1897 were 13,670,000; in 1898, 34,982,000; and 
in 1899, 39,793,000. 
The imports of eggs from Egypt into the United 
Sos 
