The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-02
The Poultry Trade.

A New York journal in speaking Of the
poultry trade Vi that city says, that
from the middle Of November until New
Years day as many as thirty and forty
car.loads Of poultry have arrived in a sin.
glN day. But the general average supply
during the busy part Of the season is about
twenty carloads daily, each load contain
ing 20, 900 pounds. An average, however,
Of ten caEloads daily might bo considered
fair one for the entire season, which
would made the estimate ol the total
arrivals no less than thirty millions Of
pounds, more than one third Of which
arrives between Nov. 90 and Dec, 81.
About the middle Of January the frozen
poultry from the extreme West begins to
arrive, having fitst been carefully packed
in boxes, averaging four Icet long; two
feet wide and fifteen inches deep. Some.
times the birds atG packed in barrels, but
this plan IS not considered as good as In
boxes, owing to the disadvantage on stow
ing on the cars. The boxes when filed
average about $50 pounds each in weight,
although heavier boxes are sometimes
shipped from distant points. OF course
there is always large quantity OF poor
stock sent to general market like New
York, and should the weather suddenly
change from cold to warm and humid,
this class Of stock will hardly realize
enough to pay for the freight, but such Is
the general scarcity Of good stock that
there Is very seldom gint oft, no matter
how the weather may change. This Is
especially the case with fat young turkeys,
which can always flnd a market at any
season of the year. The present state q
the market may be Judged from the follow.
Ing figures: Turkeys range lrom sixteen
cents to twenty cents per pound for orlin.
lry, and from twenty cents to twenty
two cents for hne fat birds. In 1860, at
the same period, the prices ranged from
eighteen cents TO twcnty.threG cents
in 1870, IRON seventeen cents to twenty
cents, and in 1871, from fifteen cents to
eighteen cents. Chickens range, tliis year,
from fourteen cents to eighteen cents, for
ordinary, and from eighteen cents to
twenty ccntS'tOr primo jersey fowls. In
1869, the prices ranged from sixteen cents
to eighteen cents In 1870, from sixteen
cents to nineteen cents, aud in 1871, from
fourteen cents to seventeen cents, The
average price generally for all kinds Of poul-
try throughout tho whole season may be
estimated at about seventeen cents per
pound, with occasionally an advance at
the time Of tue holidays. 'ia =
TIE report chat q disease had appeared
among the fowls Is found to be but tso
true, although at present 1t seems to be
confined to the neighborhood Of lower
Jersey md New York State, The disease,
although rare, Is not n stranger to this
country, having appeared about five Yeas
ago with fatal effect. At that time il did
not seem to be contagious, for some por-
ton Of. tho flock would DO affected and
another portion escape ; wbieat the same
time one farm would be severely visited,
while those on either side would not have
the slightest sign OF the disease. As yet
mono oil the lowlS in tac West are affected,
and no mention Is made Of the disease III
any oI therCpOrts from the Central States.