The Somerset reporter., 1898-01-06
IN HUB MARKETS.
Inactive Demand For Product
of the Creamery.

Prices Continue steady-statIstics on But
ter and Cheese For Last Fsar-Eggs
Firm In Price and Many stored.
Boston, Jan. 6.-Butter buyers who
held back during the holidays have not
yet begun to operate to any extent, and
the situation generally Is just about the
same as last week. Strictly fine fresh
creamery is In short supply and COM
mands full prices, say 22h cents for
small tubs and % cents for boxes, but
after passing these the supply La ample
for the demand and prices are easy at
20 to ~ cents. 1t takes nice lot OF fresh
made creamery to command ~ cents in
large lots. Choice June creamery moves
off at 20 cents. and some is held at Il
cents Ladies and limitations are quiet
at IA to IS cents.
There was more or less of a falling off
in tubs during all the months Of tina
year, except June and August. Receipts
In boxes show an increase during the
whole year. The total weight Of tubs
and boxes is 81, ,0S3 pounds, against
b0,972,2 pounds in 1896. The exports
for the year are only 1856 pounds
larger than the year previous, and II the
returned shipments received from Eng
land are taken into account the exports
for the tweSears past are about equal.
TIE statement of the Quincy Market
Cold Storage company for the week is
as follows: Put in, 1908 tubs; taken out.
8l06 tubs stock. 65,517 tubs, against r.
tab 10 ha
corresponding week last year 1853 tubs
were put in and 9406 tubs taken out.
The largest stock the past year was ON
the 21st Of August when the total was
POS. 4S7 tubs. Since then the stock has
been reduced 1870 tubs. The largest
stock in 1896 was on the 10Th of August
when the total was 223, 112 tubs, and
from that time till the close OF the year
it was reduced 150,S60 tubs. The cold
storage stock has come out in first class
condition, and 1t is now considered bet
ter than most of the fresh made butter
1t Is generally admitted that the facili-
ties for storing and keeping butter In
Boston are among the best In the coun-
try.
The consumption of butter in Boston
and vicinity averaged about 925, 900
pounds per week during the year, an in
crease of a little more than percent as
compared with the year previous, which
is less than was expected. In figuring
the stocks on hand, 40 pounds are al
lowed to box.
The range of prices for the year was
Is to % cents. against Is to 26 cents in
1895, and II to 2S cents in 1895. The bulk
of the June creamery was sold at Is
to Is cents, and prices generally ruled
steadier than for many years previous.
The cheese market continues to tone
up, and holders all over the country are
stronger in their views. There Is no I'M
provement in the demand here, but
buyers are looking around for cheap
lots, and the indicR ions are that opera
lions will soon begin. Small sales COM
tinue to be made at to 91s cents. and
holders of fine fall stock are not offer
Ing much under 10 cents. Receipts for
the year were 233,573 boxes for home
trade and 1873, 1853 boxes for export, against
202, 1872 boxes for home and 2SS, 1877 boxes
for export in 1896. The exports for the
year were 16,773, ISL pounds, against q, :
566, 44S pounds in 1896.
The leading feature of the egg market
Tuesday was the scarcity OF spring re-
frigerator stock, and sales were made at
16 to II cents. Fall held range from IT
to 20 cents, and rather slow. Fresh
western sold at "a to 25 cents, outside
for selected lots. Fresh eastern were
worth rs to q cents but few offering.
LINED quiet at IA to is cents. The stock
in cold storage stood at 15, o3o cases,
against 6749 cases same time last year.
The cold weather interfered with
movements Of apples, potatoes and all
other kinds of fruit and vegetables, and
prices were nominally steady.