Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-18
IMPORTED EGGS.
The Competition of European with
American Hens-Enects-Tariff High
Freights.

American -Tariff-HiRh
Freights.
The Post editOrialIy referred the other
day to the indignant protests of the Cen
trail Ohio Butter and Egg Packers AssO-
citation, to the effect that the home trade
was seriously injured by the importation
of foreign eggs to New York. says the
New York EUeRil1g Post of the 18th inst,
and that something ought to be done
about it. To-day a reporter made in
quiries to ascertain the extent and char
acter of this foreign supply. The princi-
pal handler of imported eggs in this mar
ket is Mr.. John G. Mahr, of No. 299 Wash
ington street. When questioned on the
subject, he said, in substance:
''This importing business began about
four years ago, in small lots, and has
been growing ever since. The eggs are
shipped chiefly from Copenhagen and
Hamburg, which are great egg centres.
That is to say, eggs collected from nearly
all parts of Europe are sent there, and
thence are distributed to the London and
other markets. The eggs are produced
largely in Italy, Austria, Denmark and
Turkey. They are packed in straw, in
cases containing 80, 60 or 120 dozen. Some
of them have been cured for winter keep
ing, like our domestic eggs, by being kept
in lime-water, which fills up the pores of
the shells and renders it possible to
keep the eggs in good condition for
months after their removal from
the water. Most of the imported
eggs are fresh laid, however, and, after a
voyage of two or three weeks, will keep
for month or six weeks longer. Some Of
the lots are graded according to size, as
is the custom in certain parts of Europe
the imported eggs, on the average,
being a little smaller than the domestic.
They are sold here at from one cent to
three cents per dozen less than
the market price of domestic eggs,
according to size and quality. 1t is
necessary to examine them here, OfcOurse,
but the work of inspection is much less
than might be supposed. AS a rule,
it is not necessary to hold an egg opposite
the flame Of a candle III order to see the
condition of it's contents, which an expert
can detect by ordinary handling and in
spectiOn as quick as money changer can
judge by the weight and feeling of a coin
whether it is true or false. OF the foreign
eggs received in this market, a great
number are consumed in this city and
neighboThoOd, while other are sent to
points in New England.
SIN the last year, say from March /,
1888, to March /, 1884, / have handled
about 5000 cases of imported eggs, on the
average of fifty or sixty dozen to the case.
| suppose that in all some 10000 or II 900
cases were received here during that
period. The late shipments have been
especially heavy, because the winter has
been mild in England, and London has
consequently been poor market for i'm
ported eggs. Many which would otherwise
have gone to London have, therefore, nat
urally been sent to New York, where the
price of fresh-laid domestic eggs reached
nearly 80 cents per dozen during January.
The price would have gone higher but for
these impOrtatiOns, which have had the
effect of making eggs cheaper through
out the country. What affects the egg
market in New York affects it in all parts
of the United States.
'HOw is it possible to import eggs and
sell them at less price than they can be
produced for here? Why, because the
protective tariff makes the cost of every
thing higher here than anywhere else,
and because of the outrageous freight
charges which result from railroad pools
and combinations. Recently 1900 dozen
eggs were sent by express from Missouri
to this city, and the bill for their trans
pOrtation, which I can show to YOU, was
$12O, or exactly 8 cents per dozen. Ordi-
nary freight rates for eggs from most Of
the Western States to New York are
higher than the freights from Europe.
There is no duty upon foreign eggs. II
there was there would be no money in
their transportation"