The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-24
CONDITION OF TRADE.
A General Weakening in All
Kinds of Country Produce.
Canned and Dried Fruit Dull-The Recent De-
cline in Lumber-Continued Gain In
Bank Clearings-Etc.

Business continues of a midsummer char
acter, being quiet and featureleSs. The
fruit-grOwers and farmers are just now too
busy harvesting their crops to do any buy
ing and as these two large producing classes
represent powerful elements their temporary
withdrawal from the markets produces q
marked effect. But the present year prom
ises to be exceptionally good. Grain and
fruit are bringing handsome returns which
will almost surely stimulate trade later on,
and as this fact is we'll known few, il any,
complaints of dizziness are heard. We are
still in the lead Of 1890, however, as the con-
slant increase IN the local bank clearings
shows. Those last week were Sic, 327, 1854,
against Sl5,93O,S20 for the same week in
1890.
THE GRAIN MARKET.
All cereals are quiet and the majority are
weak, as usual Oh incoming crops. Wheat
has again declined, new-crOp grain being de-
livered at Port Costa at 81 60 10 81 6212,
though options are hardening at the close
Most shippers have withdrawn from the
market
New barley is down to 81 1914 to 81 Is and
freely offered, though receipts are by no
means excessive.
Oats have declined from 80 cents to 81 per
ton, partly in sympathy with barley and
partly because the new crop IS now not Tar
off. Receipts, however, are slim ana oHer-
.ings moderate.
Corn is kept closely concentrated and
holders now ask 81 90 for large and small
yellow and 81 % to 81 10 for white, though
the demand is slack.
Rye is duh and unchanged.
Bran and middlingS are scarce ana nrm.
Ground barley is weak in sympathy with the
raw product.
Flour is very dun, but the high prices are
still asked by the millerS.
Grain bags are quiet and weak
GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
Hay is lower Receipts are very large, as
hay is pouring in from all parts of the ada
cent country. In fact, we are now undergo
ing the usual smashing process common to
the incoming of the new crop. Alter the
first rush of hay is over dealers look for
steadieT market
Beans are dull and in moderate receipt.
Potatoes and onions are both lower under
| liberal arrivals.
Butter is in free supply and weak. There
Is plenty on the way from the East and all
arrivals of Eastern creamery butter are
placed at once on cold storage TO await 4
better market. Cheese is in moderate sup
ply and steady. Eggs are in heavy stock,
lower and weak.
Honey is largely nominal, as old stock is
particularly cleaned up and receipts of new
crop are thus far insignificant.
The hop question is getting interesting
again. Reports from Oregon and Washing
ton are to the effect that there has been
pronounced and sudden increase in lice in
the yards there. This naturally tends to
check all contracting for the new crop aud
| dealers report dull and nominal market.
Wool is inactive and unchanged. The
same remark applies TO hides.
With several exceptions the dried-fruit
market is cleaned up OF 1890 goods, and the
! few descriptions left are neglected and
nominal, peaches and aprlcots being es-
! prciaIly weak and ignored. Very little
| trading on future account Is reported.
Raisins continue cheap and demOraliZed.
Almonds are firm at an advance, this being
the only change in nuts.
Shipments of wine from San Francisco
| during the first five months of 1891 were
| 4,427, 1854 gallons, valued at S., S24,02
against $500. $40 gallons at 81, 49, 400 during
the same period in 1890,
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
Groceries are quiet as a rule. Tue i'm
| ports Of staple groceries At this port during
! the first FIVE months of 1891 compared with
the same period in 1890 were as follows !:
Sugar, 1S9, 907 600 pounds against Us, 266, 600
coffee 1926. 600 pounds, against 1854, OC0;
rice, 2s. 99I, 900 pounds. against p, SOS, 600
| tea. 1,054 730 pounds, against $4,000.
Sugar Is quoted IN average request at un-
changed prices.
| Coffee has been weak at decline in Sal
/ vadOr, sympathetic with a recent drop in
| New York Rather mUre business has been
| done since the decline, as jobbers took hold
! better at the cheaper prices AT the close
| the New York market is strong and rising.
Rice shows little variation. Stocks OF
| Hawaiian and japanese are closed out Of
| first hands. Mixed rice Is lower.
Provisions are quiet The upward ten
| dency in smoked meats appears checked,
/ for the present at least and Eastern hams
! are II action lower.
Common candies have declined cent per
| pound.
Eastern Goldfish Is marked MP.
Some of the local jobbers are cutting
| prices for cooked corn beef.
Barreled salmon is lower. Canned salmon
/ is without feature or change.
| Canned fruits are slightly weaker Tie
| Gamers are now working on cherries, cur
rants ard apricOts. But little business on
| future account is reported.
| Packers of Pacific Goldfish are now putting
I'D the fish in a variety of packages and
! shapes to compete with the Eastern product
/ The feature of the market Is the recent ship
ment of a carload To Gloucester. Mass, tie
very home Of the Eastern Goldfish. This is
| sending Goals to Newcastle with vengeance
| but speaks volumes for the excellence of the
Pacific cod.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The lumber dealers are adjusting their
differences. Rough spruce, cargo lots, has
been advanced 81 and dressed spruce SOC per
NJ feet. This advance applies to cargoes for
export San Francisco carg0es, cOaStwiSe
! cargoes and jObbing. Retail prices have not
yet followed this advance.
Several descriptions of Manila cordage are
| lower. Other kinds unchanged.
Dry goods continue quiet and without
feature.
Tobacco is dull Cigars are In moderate
| demand
Arrivals of coal last week were II, 674 tons
| Coast, and 9S05 tons foreign. A trade circu-
| lar says:
Notwithstanding our light arrivals from for.
eign sources for Tie past several weeks still Inn.
portatlOus from our northern cOliierles are keep
| ing pace with our consumption. Later on when
we shall have free arrivals OF English there Will
| be reduction In the amount Of coast Goals
| shipp O. OF some Of their products Will find an
| Improbable market. There is further advance
quoted on coal etghts from Great Britain, and
| coal cargOes arc held al somewhat higher fig
| ures, stIll there is an inactivity to business,
| which strongly evidences that no material ad-
vance Is feared. 1he Australian list Is g small
one. and fun figures aie demanded for future
| loading. There are some new grades of Aus
tralian now Ell route which are reputed a. being
very popular IN the Colonies; they are seeking TO
create an outlet here fOI future shipments. The
| future quoted rates for wheat charters are stiI
| highi their remaining so will insure tbs liberal
shipments OF coal from foreign ports during the
year.
Foreign imports at this port during the
| first five months of 1891 were $50, 1874 $50,
against $50, 500. 900 during the same time in
1890, and S23.S65, 600 in 1885,
The imports this year are unusually large.
| There has been an increase of 50, 143, 600
from the Hawaiian Islands, 81 90, 600 from
! Japan. S55SO00 from China and Hong
Kong, $500, 600 from Central America, $685.
600 from Great Britain and lesser gains
| from other sources.