The Portland daily press., 1864-01-09

moro favorable prices that have, during greater
portion of the year, ruled below Boston and
New York markets.
DRUG TRADE.
The business in Drugsand Dye Woods has been
large and prosperous the past year. Dealers
have extended the trade of this market to nearly
all parts of the State, as well as to various Wes-
tern markets. The rapid growth of the whole
sale Drug business in Portland has induced the
dealers to so extend their facilities, and increase
stocks, that this market is enabled 10 compete
successfully with other markets, upon which the
Druggists throughout the State have heretofore
relied for supplies, but who are now beginning
to turn to Portland as a favorable depot for sup
plies in this branch of business. Prices for
ly all kinds of Drugs continued to rule steady
at high prices in common with all kinds of mer-
chandise Many articles of Drugs and Chemicals
in the early part of December underwent some
advance, in consequence of the anticipation OF
the increased excise duty proposed by Congress,
more especially on spirits; Notwithstanding the
high ruling prices, the volume of business has
been greatly in excess of any previous year, and
has been well sustained up to the close Of the
year.
FISH TRADE.
The trade in Dry and Sailed Fish during the
past year has not only been unusually large, but
prices have ruled at unprecedented high rates,
and we have every reason to believe dealers have
realized a profitable season. The market opened
early in the season with very light stock on
hand, and with the active demand that suisse
quently followed, prices continued to advance,
reaching as high as s.. aS6 per qtl for Cod in
this market, and Notwithstanding the heavy
fares of Cod, Pollock, IIake, &C., as well as
Mackerel taken during the month OF October,
the demand exceeded the supply. The demand
for Western markets has largely increased the
past year, and heavy shipments have been made
over the Grand Trunk Road to Chicago, Detroit
Milwaukee, st. Louis, and various parts of Can
ada. From the most reliable sources we gather
the following statement of what may be consid-
cred the actual quantity purchased in this mar
ket during the past year. 1900 bbls. Mackerel
10000 bbls Herring, $4,000 bbls Dry Fish, $780,
600 boxes Herring, 200 bbls picked Halibut,
Salmon, Cod, &c. Ip connection with the Fish
business, may be added2 900 bbls Fish Oil, and
$4,000 bbls clans FUSED by fishermen for bait).
There is also large business done in fresh
Fish. which are sold in large quantities for the
Western market, passing over the Grand Trunk
r. r., and also by steamers to New York and
Boston. 1t is estimated that the value of the
fresh and Lobster business amounts to 500 900
per annum The estimated value of all kinds of
Nish purchased in this market the past year
will exceed one million dollars
Over three hundred sail of fishermen are fitted
out annually from this port, who in return dis
pose of their products in this market. There
has been imported from the lower provinces dur
ing the year, II ,455 boxes Smoked Herring; =
5i4 bbls Picked do; 4,464 otis Dry Fish; 42l
bbls Mackerel, and about 50 bbls Fish Oil.
FLOUR TRADE.
The Flour trade has increased from a compar-
atively unimportant branch of business ten
years ago, to one of the leading branches of the
trade of this market As we have had occasion
to previously remak, in former years Portland
has been almost entirely dependent upon Boston
and New. York for supplies of Flour, which, with
the additional cost Of transportation and Incl
dental expenses precluded the possibility of our
merchants competing with those places in sup
plying the extensive trade from the interior of
our State and towns on the sea coast. But the
past year has witnessed new era in the Flour
trade of this city, for our merchants have not
only been able to supply the heavy trade that
has been so advantageousy turned to this mar
ket from our own State, as well as New Hamp-
shire and the British Provinces, at prices not
than New York or Boston.
There have been shipped from this port to for
egn countries, during the past year, %, OILS bbls
Flour, against 81 900 in 1852, not including
shipments per steamers to St. john From only
about or Flour dealers in 1851, (there being
only two de,lersl on CONNIE. cial st. } there are
now go wholesale dealers in Flour in Portland,
who have realized large and profitable business
the past year.
MoLAssEs TRADE.
Portland is scarcely second,to New Yorkin the
extent of her importatons of molasses No
other port comes near her. The stock of Mo-
lasses in the hands of importers ON the first OF
the present month is nearly nominal, amount
ing to only about 44o hhds., all of which is
Tart, and the stock in the hands of the jobbing
grocers is very limited, no one holding but small
quantities, indeed the stock is much lighter than
has been here for years past. The stock III I'm
porters' hands on the first of last year, was only
$50 hhds., "a tres, and So bbls; against 1895
hhds., and $50 bbls, January LIST, 1852; and / :
400 hhds. January list, 1860.
The importations for the past year amount to
$4,000 hhds., $500 tres, and / 1888 bills The
importations for the four previous years were as
follows: