Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1873-10-30
LIVERPOOL. October 3, 1873.

SEA lSLANDs-1ne nlSn PRICES WHICH
ruled for sea island during the season OF
1S7l-'72, owing TO the small crop that
year, led to considerable depression In
the fine spinning trade; and the market
opened in October last without spirit.
Early this season the sale of all the
medium gradeS-especially of Florida
was much interfered with by the
abundant supply and relative eheapness
of subthutes. 1t soon became evident,
from tho continued heavy receipts at the
ports, that the crop would be much larger
than had been anticipated. The demand
for fine yarns being still without improve
ment, spinners had no inducement to
buy, and prices rapidly gave way until
the end Of May, when a decline had been
established of cd. to Cd. per pound in
the medium" and good medium"
grades of sea island and Florida cotton.
The stock had meanwhile been accumulat-
ing, and by this time amounted to over
10000 bags. In Charleston and Savan-
nah prices had also been falling all the
year, and in May more advantageous
purchases could be made there than in
Liverpool. Even this serious deprecia.
ton in value failed to bring about any
perceptible increase in the consumption.
Some spinners, however, were induced
by the great fall in prices to come into
the market and purchase freely; and
during the six weeks ending with june
about 5000 bags were sold. This to
some extent relieved holders, and with
a smaller supply Offering, prices gradual.
ly recovered in July I'd. to Sd. per pound
from the lowest point. The demand
then fell off, and this improvement was
not fully maintained. The market clos.
es, however, with renewed frmness, and
the stock of the common" and "medi,
um" grades is now in small compass.
The quality of the crop generally-but
especially of Florida not been equal
to the average cf previous years; and
this has greatly contributed to the de-
cline in prices. The quantity of fine
and extra fne' island cotton sent tc
| this market has been very small, and
the quality much below the average
The prices realized for these grades have
been relatively high; but spinners have
always shown a decided preference
for the lots remaining from the previous
crop.
TExAs.-The falling off in the qualit,
of Texas sea island this season has. beer
most marked. This cotton was previous
ly in great favor, and realized about tn
same prices as well prepared medium
fine" sea island, but this year it has hac
to be applied to lower numbers, and tn
bulk of it has only ranked with good
Florida. The total crop amounted II
about 1000 bags, against about l,OO'
bags the previous year.
ALGERIA.-This cotton has for some
time been out of favor with Englisl
spinners, and very little has found it
way to this country for the last two year
The crop has either been sent direct t.
c, influential spinners or sold in Marseilles
There are no means OF ascertainlag 1t
extent, but it is probable that abou
1000 bags, of $50 pounds each, wer'
grown last year.
TAulTI.-Thc cotton famine produced
by the American war led to the cultiva
tion of sea island cotton in various count
ries; but in the Island Of Tahiti alon'
was there at first favorable result. Fo
some time this, cotton proved to be yer!
important substitute, and was muci
liked by spinners; but during the las
two years the quality has so greatly de
Perforated in regularity and strength o
staple that it is now quite out OF favor
and the low prices which holders have
seriously curtailcd he production.
FiJI.-The settlers in the FIJI Islands
were the next to turn their attention tt
the cultivation Of cotton from sea lslant
seed, and the first small parcels of vel
ginned cotton realized from IS to As St
per lb. These high prices rapidly stimu
ated the production, and the suppl,
this season has reached about 1000 bales
In consequence Of excessive rains abou
one fourth of the crop is usually stained
This cotton in its gener al propertle!
more resembles sea island than any sub
stitute; but the extreme length Of staple
without propertionate strength, is ;
serious draw back. At first the prepare
ton was exceedingly defective, the bull
being sawginned. Each season ha
since shown a marked Improvement il
this respect, as well as in the evennes'
and strength ofstaple. The great irreg
ularity of the earlier crops gave mucl
disappointment, and caused considera bl,
prejudice against the cotton, which ha
not yet been overcome. At the begin
ming of the season clean good staple cot
ton was sold at lSd to 22d. according II
fneness and preparation. This wa
considered low scale of prices, and the
cotton was readily taken instead of Flori
da. The great decline in sea island, anc
the continued depression in the fine spin
ming trade, caused some holders, as tn,
season advanced, anxiouly to press sales
and prices drifted down 4d to Cd per lb
At this reduction the sales were again
considerable, but the market closes will
very little recovery, clean useful quail
tics only bringing from 14d to led. 1
W uld be a matter of deep regret il
these unreasonahly low prices SHOULD
have tha effect of driving out of produc
tion this rapidly improving, but as We
unappreciated, cotton.
PERUvIlN.-The production of sea
island cotton was commenced three o.
four years ago in Peru, and being grea
success, was rapidly extended. Tit
supply this year has amounted to abou
1000 bales of $50 pounds each. This cot
ton ismuch in favor for wcft spinning
owing to its color, cleanness and silkness O
staple. AT the commencement of the sea
sou there was an active demand forthe goot
lots of the new crop at about 24d. and the!
were readily sold from this price dowl
to pod: During the summer the demand