The record-union., 1896-07-26
NOT SO HEAVY This YEAR.
Fruit Shipments Not Equal to Those Of
Last Year.
Prices in the Eastern Market Much
Improved, and Still Better
Are Anticipated.

SulppSQ East yesterday was 90 dS
against 54 for the corresponding day last
year AS to variety, the shipment Is
divided into: Peaches 13 cars, plums D.,
grapes Il, pears 20l4 mixed Il. Chi
cago will get in carloads: Peaches 312.
plums l, pears 411a-9. New York
Peaches 1, plums 2$4, pears o12-12.
Boston-Peaches4 AZ, plums pears 2a4-
8. Denver-Peaches &4.grapes 14-1. Min
neapolis-Pears 1. Milwaukee-Pears /.
Kansas Ctty-Peaches "a, pears $4-1.
Other points-Peaches 3, plums u,
pears =, mixed 12-6.
The Apache brought up 1852 pack
ages from the down-river orchards yes
terday, and the Acme brought up i, II4
This is about ths average amount that
has come up for several days past, and
will come for several days to come.
A. ]. Hechtman, Nice-President of
Porter Brothers Company, said
THE demand for California fruit in
Eastern cities has improved very mate
rally the past week. There is a much
stronger feeling among the trade, con-
sequently better prices have, as a rule
prevailed during the closing days of this
week. This is notably true of Atlantic
l.
also swinging around in much better
shape than would have seemed possible
one week ago. The coming week, be-
ginning with Mondays sales, we will
have much better prices on Bartlett
pears, peaches and fancy plums, and
anticipate a good improvement right
along. All advices indicate that the
feeling In the East on California green
fruits is stronger than it has been at
any time since this season opened.
THE continued extremely light ship
ments of deciduous fruits have we be-
lieve, had the effect of convincing the
Eastern buyer that reports of a short
crop in California were not exaggerated
earlier in the season. Oranges are sell
ing in Chicago to-day at 81 90 to So per
box. Few oranges and high prices will
naturally help to attract the attention
of the trade and the conusmer to the de-
ciduous products of California.
LAS the season advances the shortness
of the crop becomes more and more ap-
parent to those who are posted on the
situation.
In the dried fruit market there is no
change whatever to note. The transac-
they are hardly worthy of mention
Growers of table grapes can with
safety anticipate a prosperous season
unless early rains cause injury to the
crop"
Mr.. Earl of the Earl Fruit Company
said: Shipments of California fruit
to Eastern markets continue light, on
account of the low prices realized in
auction markets during the last ten
days. Shipments are about twenty per
cent less this season than to same date
last year, and last years shipments
were about twenty-five per cent. less
than the year before. The light ship
ments during the last ten days are
likely to cause a reaction in Eastern
markets, and we look for a decided i'm
provement in auction prices the first of
this week. There are large quantities of
Bartlett pears, peaches, plums and
prunes available for Eastern shipment,
and it is hoped markets will improve
soon and that prices will justify more
liberal shipments.
THE first London shipment arrived and
sold in London last week at very salts
factory prices to growers, and large
quantities of fruit are being offered for
export. Our London agents strongly
advise, however, not to ship more than
five cars per week, as large quantities
OF homegrown pears will be in the Lon
don market during the month of August
and much lower prices are likely to rule
for California fruit than those realized
for the first shipment.
"The temptation is very great to in
crease the London shipments in the face
OF the prices realized for the first ship
ment, but these prices are no indication
OF the prices which will be realized for
fruit going forward after this date.
These export shipments in previous
years have resulted in heavy losses for
growers and others concerned, chiefly
on account of encouraging promiscuous
shipments and overstocking the Lon
don market. A conservative policy
should be followed this season, and it
would certainly be unwise to increase
the weekly shipments at present to ex-
ceed five cars, especially in view of the
advices we have from our London
agents to this effect, as they are certain
ly in position to know better what can
be done in the London market than peo-
PIE at this end of the line. We continue
to nave good f. o. b. demand for Cal
fornia fruit for shipment to the smaller
cities of the United States and Canada.
TheSe t. o. b. shipments to smaller East
ern cities will have tendency to re-
neve the auction markets, and unless
we are very much mistaken, there will
be a decided improvement in prices at
chicago, New York and other auction