The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-08-18
Lesson in an Egg Shell.
From the Chicago Times

Five hundred million dozen eggs, says
an English paper, are annually consumed
in the United States; their value, at s
pence per dozen being considerably more
than El600O,00O These figures are to
some extent accounted for by the nation
al fondness for pastry, of which Ude de-
clared eggs to be the great original"
One ofthe best signs of thriving indus
try is the little public fuss made about it ;
The American poultry farmers have for a
long time been naturally and profitably
silent. But cause of disquletude has a,
length arisen. No duty is imposed ON
foreign eggs, and some sixteen million
dozen of these are annually imported in
to the United States. The competition is
not so very severe at present, the foreign
supply being less than one-thirtieth of the
entire consumption Still, forewarned is
forearmed; and an American trade
journal presumably expresses the senti-
ments of its subscribers when it indig-
nantly asks whether the native egg indus
try is to be crushed out by the rivalry of
the cheap pauper fowls of the old world"
There is perhaps more pique than pro-
priety i'll this expression, though ii sug
gests obvious matter for reflection on our
side of the Atlantic. If We may judge
from the innumerable treatises founded
upon the problem, How to make poul-
try pay" poultry seldom does pay in
England. In regard to this matter there
is a singular if not painful contrast be.
tween English indifference and American
enthusiasm. American producers are ex-
cited by the fact that quite insignificant
proportion of foreign eggs finds its way
into their markets. English should-be
producers are in no way disturbed, al
though every retail shop in the kingdom
has practically to rely upon the foreign
supply. The statistics of these imports
tell their own significant story. During
the summer months from fifty TO eighty
tons of eggs are landed every twenty -four
hours on the quays of Harwich. These
come almost exclusively from North It.
ally by the way of St Gothard tunnel
The daily cargoes occasionally amount to
as much as 1870 tons, representing about
100000 of eggs, of which London is al
most the sole destination. Besides these,
from 50,00O,0O0 to 6O,OO0,0O0 of eggs are
sent into England every month from
Denmark, Germany, Belgium and France,
The last country does thriving export
trade after supplying the egg-loving Par
isians with the 100000 dozen which is
their annual consumption. 1t may be
instructive to note some of the points on
our coast, at which this foreign produce
is discharged. Weymouth receives from
100000 to 100000 of eggs per month
Newhaven and southampton over s,0o0,-
600 each; London port Of 5,00O,OO0;
Harlepool, 5000 900; Grimsby and New
castle, 5,000,O00 each; Leith, 2,OO0,000.
The duty ON imported eggs was repealed
in 1860.
If there is any one thing on which
poultry experts are agreed, it is that
fowls thrive best in moderate companies.
A stock of fifty mead of fowls is likely to
yield a greater proportionate profit than
one of five hundred Poultry keeping is,
in fact the ideal of poor mans industry
The enormous continental supply of eggs
is not due to large establishments, but to
a well-orginized system of collecting the
produce of small ones- The Italian peas
ant finds bookkeeping one Of his most
profitable pursuits. He barters or sells
his eggs to the local agents of the great
dealers, who apportion the various cir
cults to travelling collectors Thus, by in
Vulnerable small but fructifying channels,
the prosperity of the countryside is con-
nected with the maintenance of the CEN
tral marts Such facts as these might APP
peal 10 the general laborer, or at least to
many who assume to be interested in his
behalf.