The Portland daily press., 1893-11-07
MILLIONS OF BANANAS.
Enormous Increase in Their Consumption
Varieties of the Fruit.

Thirty-six years ago the steamer North
Star brought TO this port 500 punches
of bananas. The New York market had
never before received anything like that
quantity at once, and when Messrs. w. C.
Smith, then at Cedar street and Broad
way, undertook to handle the entire ship
ment the venture was pronounced haz-
ardous one, as, indeed, it proved, for af
ter the local trade was fully supplied
there wassa large overplus, which could
only be disposed of by shipping portions
to Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore.
Until thirty years ago the importation of
bananas was confined to the three spring
months, and the number of punches re-
ceived a month some times reached $50
to 800 So little was the fruit known
ana appreciated that, as late as 1865 the
market was glutted by as small a supply
SIS twelve punches, which arrived here in
June, when straw berries were abundant,
and the fruit was left on the hands of
the enterprising importers. These early
supplies from Aspinwall were brought
by the officers of the old Atlantic line of
steamers. Personal pecuniary ventures
OF THIS sort by its employees being pro-
men left their employ to engage directly
III the business of importing bananas,
and in this way the trade became regu-
larly stablished in 1863 1t was not until
1879 that the first steamers were char
tered jas fruit-carriers for the West Indian
trade; but the business has developed
so rapidly that for the twelve months
ending with the 1st of last Julyssnot less
than 1873 steamers were engaged in carry
ing bananas between the West Indies,
Central America, Aspinwall and the
United States, and as many as twenty
eight have discharged here in "a week.
Sailing vessels are too slow for this
traffic, and the trip by steam from ia
malca requires but seven and a half days
and from Aspinwall day longer Three
lines OF steamers comprising twelve YES
sells, make regular trips every ten days
between Colon, Puerto Limon, Jamaica
and New York, 100 more being chartered
by brokers or run on the owners ac-
count. Norway provides majority
of the vessels, which range from 400 to
1000 tons burden, and the flags of Great
Britain, the United States, Spain and
Denmark also appear in the service.
The trade has steadily grown, until in
1892 the receipts Of bananas in this port
amounted to 3, rs, 625 punches. In July
the highest figures of the current year
were reached, 567, 067 punches having
come to New York during that month.
The largest New York supplies are now
drawn from Jamaica, 1,O55,S $40 punches
having been received here from that is
land during the year, The Cuban
ports, Banes, Sauna, Gibbara and Caban-
leo, where the trade has more recently
been established, together sent about co.
600 punches last year, the remainder of
the supply coming from Aspinwall, Hon
duras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica Be-
sides these large importations by New
York, nearly 100000 punches went to
Philadelphia last year, and almost as
many more to Boston, while Baltimore,
Savannah and Mobile are also large con-
sumers. New Orleans is, however, the
most important market in the country,
the enormous quantity of 4, 483, 351
punches having passed into that city
from Central America during last year,
three-quarters of million punches more
than were disposed of in New York. The
water transportation to that port is
short. and the bananas are quickly and
cheaply distribute by special trains
throughout the entire Mississippi Valley.
So well organized is this service that the
fruit is often cheaper in Chicago than
in New York The total importations
into all United States ports during last
year were 1855, 1856 punches, weighing
about 5000 tons.
AS much as 95 per cent. of the fruit re-
ceived here is of the yellow variety; all
the red bananas, which were formerly
held in high favor, being received from
Baracoa. A few of the small "lady-fin-
ger" bananas, of singularly delicate and
delicious flavor, are occasionally had
from Aspinwal!, and are highly es-
teemed for table use here, as they are in
the tropics, where they are greatly pre-
ferred and are generally used. They do
not carry well, and for this reason are
seldom seen here.-Garden and Forest.