The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-07 00:00:00

English, which, throng

bein in insuf

nt supply

value; common have also participated in the improvement,
although not to the smile Went, The continued advance

in hides, and great uncertainty as to
caused tanners to keep their leather off the mar

Lure supplies, have

oned, stool

as possible,

before me..
seen exceedingly light. Having referred in our opening
paragraphs to the causes which have produced the present
standard of price,, and to the effects which an altered state
of political events may produce, we have little more to add,
other than the remark that the year commences with an
exceedingly small quantity of leather in factors' hands,
tanners, many of them, are full of orders, and that i
estimated, that the country dealers hold exceedingly small
stocks ; from which our readers miy draw th

;ir OWN

inference, taking into consideration the other circumstances
we have alluded to.

DRESSING LEATHER : Shaved hides have improved in
value considerably, and are now 2d to gd per lb higher
than at the commencement of last year. Government orders
have required large quantities, and the market has been
frequently cleared ; stocks on hand are exceedingly small,
and our present quotations are readily obtained. Harness
hides have also advanced in price, and well flayed parcels
continue to be much wanted ; common descriptions are
more plentiful : good unshaved dressing hides about 21 to
26113 s are in request, at our full quotations. Horse hides,
the stocks on hand of these goods, both tanned and in the
hair, are considerably reduced, but we cannot report much,
if any, improvement in value ; it is evident that the consump-
tion of Cordovan in this country has fallen off very materially.
Kips, in the almost absence of any supplies of Petersburgh,
the best qualities of East India have been much enquired
for; common qualities have continued dull of sale until
within the last month, when a better demand has been
experienced. Stocks of all kinds are small, and fresh
arrivals more freely. Calf skins have sold steadily during
the whole of the year, and there is not much alteration
in prices to note ; good pattern skins, 70 to 901bs, are much
sought after.
OFFAL.—It is somewhat remarkable that offal is almost
the only article connected with the trade which has deterio-
rated in value during the past year, both shoulders and
bellies being Id to ld per lb lower than at this time twelve
months back; this may be in some measure accounted for
by the decline in the price of sizing having induced tanners
to tan more of their offal than they otherwise would have
done. At the present time shoulders, both English and
Foreign, are not in large supply, but the stock of bellies is
considerable. There appears to be a feeling prevalent that
there will be a move in offal shortly, in conformity to the
present state of the market for other descriptions of
leather.

RAW GOODS.—SALTED RIVER PLATE AND RIO GRANDE
lIIDES.—On reference to the annexed table, it will be seen
that the total imports into this country for the past year
have been 568,342, against 492,437 in 1854, 712,565 in
1853, 601.578 in 1852, and 630,452 in 1851, which shows
a decrease of 40,916 hides on the average of the four pre-
ceding years. Of the import this year a very considerable
deduction must be made for the large quantity which has
been taken to supply government orders, and which have
not come into tanners' hands ; and it may fairly be
presumed that the quantity of hides put into work in
this country during the past twelve months has been
very much below the average of many years back.
During the whole of the past year the market for these
goods has been exceedingly buoyant, and prices have
continued gradually to advance without any check,
until they have reached our present quotations, which are
from 20 to 25 per sent. higher than at this period in 1855.
This advance is principally owing to the advices from time
to time reaching this country from the River Plate, all to
the effect that there were few hides to ship, and by tanners
apprehending (certainly not without great cause) there
would be a scarcity of leather in the country consequent.
upon the small quantities of hides put forward in 1854. The
continental markets have competed largely with us for these
bides, and have given a further stimulus to prices The
prospect of future supplies seems very unsatisfactory by the
lart advices from the River Plate, and the market is now
very firm at our extreme quo'ations. There can be no doubt
that the present high rates will bring over all the hides
that can be procured; and should the war end soon, the
wants of Government for loshing purposes will cease ; and
it may be expected that the continental markets will require
a much less quantity, therefore our home tanners may be
able to obtain larger supplies. The stocks remaining on
hand at the present time are exceedingly small, tho total
quantity in the United Kingdom being only 7,978 hides,
against 37,032 at the end of 1854; 114,231 in 1853;
63,258'in 1852 ; and 144,336 in 1851.
Dux RIVER PLATE AND RIO GRANDE HIDES.—The total
imiort during the past year has again been extremely
limited, amounting to only 4,349, of both descriptions,
against 7,171 in 1854, 64,625 in 1853, 24,185 in 1852, and
62,653 in 1851. With this small import, the transactions
have necessarily been unimportant, but prices have ruled
much higher than for many years back. The bulk of the
imports have been of common quality. The present stocks
on hand are 939 dry Rio Grande in this market, and 60 dry
Buenos Ayres in London; total 999 hides, against 676 in
1854, 3,754 in 1853, and 4,200 in 1852.

WEST COAST AND WEST INDIA HlDES.—lmports 7,549
of the former, and 7,483 of the latter, against 12,003 of
both kinds in 1854, and 6,451 in 1853. A brisk demand
has existed for these hides, and they in common with other
raw goods have advanced in price, present quotations being
lid to 2d per lb higher than at the commencement of last
year. Present stock only 81 west coast (in London) and•no
West India, against 2,211 i❑ 1854.

BRAZIL Hthis—we have received a large supply of these
hides during the past year, the total imports being 98,849,
against 63,815 in 1854, 66,311 in 1853, 38,462 in 1852,
and 21,244 in 1851. The demand has been good, and
prices have advanced with little intermission during the
whole year, to-day's quotations being about 15 on wet
salted, and 2d per lb on dry salted, over those at this time
twelve months back. Of the quantity imported, by far the
greater portion have been sold for export, but our home
tanners have lately taken them to a fair extent. Stock on
hand 7,390, against 5,240 in 1854, and 6,580 in 1853.
EAST INDIA Kr-Ps—lmport 2,373,957, against 2,339,371
in 1854, 2,135,524 in 1853, and 1,666,000 in 1852. The
imports into this market have been on a very limited scale,
and principally of common descriptions. The demand has
ruled dull up to within the last two months, when more
inquiry sprung up and prices advanced, present rates being
higher by about Id per lb over those of this time last year.
Present stock "in this market 30,000, and in London
323,193, total 353,193, against 347,297 in 1854, 389,000
in 1853, and 426,000 in 1852.
HORSE HlDES.—lmports 180,294, against 321,406, in
1854, 358,052 in 1853, and 121,255 in 1852. At the early
part of the year, the demand was exceedingly languid,
and prices continued to rule very low during the summer
months ; there has latterly, however, been more inquiry,
principally for export, and the market has been left hare
of stock; our present quotations are 2s to 2s 6d per hide
higher than at this period last year. The stock in this
market is 5,217, and in London 22,648; total 27,865,
against 93,855 in 1854, 69,021 in 1853, 9,940 in 1852, and
61,004 in 1851.
Oak BARK.—lmport, into this market 4,500 tons, against
3150 in 1854, 4,680 in 1853, and 4,500 in 1852. The demand
has been pretty constant during the year, and prices were
somewhat higher, but during
the lasttwi
no a
rmonthsket closes
se thes
arrivals have been more extensive, and the
with little alteration in the quotations of this time last
year; our home harvest has been large, and in this dis-
trict of good quality, from which tanners have supplied
themselves freely, at prices rather above those current in
1854. 70 tons cork tree bark have been imported -
sold ex ship at 61. 15s. per ton.

—VALONIL—Import 4400 tons, against 7600 in 1854, 6675
tons in 1853, and 5750 tons in 1852. The import is small,
but, together with the heavy stock remaining on hand at
the end of 1854, has been sufficient to supply the wants of
the trade. What has been received of the new crop is of
excellent quality, and from all we can learn the import
for the year is likely to be a full averag3 one. The
present stock is estimated at 1758 tons, against 2500 tons
at the end of 1854.
DIVI Dlv.t.—lmport 2700 tons, against 2767 tons in 1854,
2850 tons in 1853, and 2000 in 1852. The fluctuations in
the value of this article have been unimportant, and with
the exception of a slight decline in the summer months,
when there were some considerable arrivals of inferior
quality, prices have been steady, and the quotations are
now about the same as at the commencement last year.
GAMBIER.—There has been a full average import
during the past year, and prices have gradually declined
about 4s per cwt. The stocks in this market, as well as
in London, are considerable, we believe.

FRUIT.
(Front the Circular of Messrs. .Houghton and Levy.)
CURBANTS.-Our market during the past month has
been exceedingly quiet, and prices of all descriptions

have had a disposition to give way. The duty paid clear-
ances, in comparison to former years, show a considerable
falling off, being only ]5O tons against 310 tons in Decem-
ber, 1854, and 230 tons in December, 1853. This, no doubt,
partly arises from the unsatisfactory state of the Colonial
market, but perhaps is attributable more directly to the
influence of high prices. Holders, of late, have shown a
greater disposition to meet buyers, but it has not tended
to increase business, which for December has been more
limited than for many years. The arrivals consist of
about 450 tons against 400 tons in December, 1854—the
quality in comparison to the early imports is generally
inferior, and is at present most difficult of sale. In com-
paring the stock with former years, it has never been so
light, and the dealers generally being bare, should an
arise, the market would soon assume a

leman,