The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-07
OUR FRUIT TRADE.
THE DEMOCRAT REPORTER con-
TINUEs HIS INVESTIGATIONS
ON THAT LINE.
He Obtains Numerous Data Concerning a
Business of Vast Importance to the
(Omme rec of this City.

He Obtains Numerous Data Concerning a
Business of Vast Importance to the
Commerce of this City.
A representation Of the DEMOCRAT again in
teryiewsd some OF the fruit dealers with refer
enee to the importance of that trade. the man
ner in which II Is carried on and the improve
ments already done In the trade or in contem-
plation.
Dropping upon Mr.. J. P. Macheca ut his
store No. Toulouse street. our reporter COM
menced in this style:
Well, Mr.. Macheca waving the fumigation
question, how Ia the fruit trade progressing at
PRESENT.
Answer
THE FRUIT TRADE
Is on the increase. but In Kuatan. Utila and
other places the banana crop was much dam
aged having been blown down by severe hurri-
canes.
Q.-Is the demand good2 Where does 1t come
from principally
A.-The demand was never better than now
It comes principally from Chicago. st. Louis.
Louisville. Cincinnati and Memphis.
(Which Is the principal fruit producing
lsland2
A.-Ruatan island and Jamaica.
Q.-WHAT FRUITS SELL MORE READILY
cipally from Jamaica. From Ruatan we receive
oranges and yams.
Q.-Does this business pay2
Ayes, when followed with strict attention.
It does. But thing that strikes me is. that
plantains may supersede potatoes in the mar
ket at some III ure time. They are cheaper. and
are In good demand.
Q.-What facilities have you at your command
to carry on the trader
A,-There are now altogether about twenty
sailing vessels and one steamer. l own four
schooners. and am consignee OF eight vessels
owned by parties In Portland, Me.
Q.-HUw Is THE EXCHANGE BASIS Conducted
Ave send flour. k, lumber. dry goods.
hardwa re- and agricui raj tools in exchange
for the fruit. We make all transactions on a
cash basis; that is. the fruit is sold here for
cash, which Is then invested in merchandise for
exchange.
O.-How Is the outlook for the summer sea-
SOM
A.-There will be moro provisions and mer-
chandise sent than last year but the receipts of
fruit will be less on account of damage caused
by the hurricanes.
Q-What improvements have been made and
what are contemplated to facilitate the trader
A.-This year a steamer was added to the
trade. and as compared with last year. the fleet
OF schooners Is larger. Next year there will DO
two lines Of steamt iips between this port, the
Bay islands and the West India islands. and it
is thought that the government
WILL ALLOW A SUBSIDY
for the transmission Of the mails Our irm had a
new schooner built last January She is lis tons
burden, cost $40 500. named the j. p. Macheca'
and plies between New Orleans and Kingston
Jamaica.
O-What are the receipts since September
800 900: pineapples. 14OO tons lines 500 barrels
and boxes; oranges. 100000 barrels; plantatns
100, 900 lunches.
A.-Cocoanuts and bananas.
Q-How does our domes ic fruit trade show2
A.-1he export Of Louisiana oranges is on
West; the crop last year was short on account
OF the blossoms having been affected by cold
weather; the exports since September are
ABOUT 900 BARRELS
and the prospect for next years crop is very
The pecan trade is fair: he crop
averaged 5000 to 10 900 barrels. both of Louisi-
ana and Texas pecans.
Q.-Whence do the best fruits como?
o,-Wbat are the most salable fruits of
A-oranges. figs. pecans and persimmons
This summer We expect to have very large
crop, OF peaches. pears. pums. and straw
O-Could you kindly furni. b an estimate of
your firms receipts since September2
ertanly; we receive mont hly some $4,000
punches of bananas. 100000 plhintains. 200 900
coc anuts. some 100 barrels lines. and about
Q-How is the fruit shipped North and West?
A.-By the Jackson roue. by steamboats,. and
by the Mobile line to Atlanta. Ga.
A.-Cocoanuts are shipped by boat in boxes
and hogsheads. aud on the CARS by car loads;
orange. in barrels and cases: bananas In car
Q.-What are the advantages of the fruit trader
A.-The fruit trade - great aid to ne bust
Payment to thousands of hard working people,
and brings much money and capital here.
Mobile and Galveston cannot compete with
sdepha have large the trut
line with Cuba and other islands. They are not
subject to quarantine and fumigation like u.s.
have succeeded 80 far. The produce trade be-
Hessrs. Gordon 4 Gomilla ship about 1000
cents a barrel. Mr.. Del Bondio is trying to
build trade between New Orleans and Jamaica
in the produce line.
MR. q. aRANDA
and several other prominent fruit dealers we're
interviewed and their statements coincide with
the facts recited above.
c. J. BERRY.
of the firm Of Berry Co., importers Of fruit.
was found at his store. 81 Poydras street Hav-
ing stated in general terms the object of our
call. we put the special question:
Question-.Can you give me some information
the i'm portance of the fruit trade aud
the effect Of the tumgation Of fruit cargoes?
Answer-Yes. 1 can; for 1 have given the SUBJ
ject considers able attention for several years. AS
to the fumigation, such as was applied to tn.
Dyer, will dispose of that part of
the question briefly. 1t creates desperate
and must result fatally to The fruit
importing business of New Orleans. which is
now assuming most important proportion.
Q-HOw were the quarantine laws carried
out formerly in connection with the fruit bust
ness?
A-Iknow Of only one case of fumigation in
former wears. and that was TO my detriment /
had imported 1900 dozen Of nine appl-s. and
antine that the vessel carrying them had 10 be
fumigated, 1 Immediately telegrapned him not
means to comply with the lay, but it was too
that time have never heard Of the fumigation
tsulphurous acid gas is what is used. I Think