The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-04-28
DO AMERICAN POULTRYMEN
NEED TARIFF PROTECTION? ?

Millions of Chinese Eggs, Produced
by "Scavenger" Hens. Dumped
on Markets of United States
Annually.
(By B. E. Adams, Charleston, S. c.
President South Carolina Poultry
Breeders Association.
future of the industry is
60 he'd by Oriental competition" +"
sa! Fhe Protection Of the Poultry
Industry" committee of the American
Poultry Association. This committee
has filed a brief with the House ways
and means committee favoring a
tariff on eggs. egg products and poul-
try. This is problem worthy the
serious consideration of every one
aSpterested in the poultry industry.
While the industry in the Southern
States is not seriously threatened at
this time by the Importation OF Chin
ese eggs the breeders should not be
too hasty in criticising the egg far
mer of the Pacific coast because they
are seeking protection for their pro-
d4cts. Harry III. Collier, of Tacoma,
WASH, one of the leaders in the poul-
try world, stated in a speech before
the American Poultry Association at
Kansas City, last August that poul-
try breeders in the interior and along
the eastern coast could not possibly
realize what poultry men were up
against along the Pacific coast" Mr..
Collier told of how shiploads of eggs
from the Orient were dumped on the
market at prices far below the cost
OF production OF the American pro-
duct.
The large number of poultry men
forming the committee now at work
for national legislation represent ev-
cry section of the country and have
made out an interesting case. They
show that "eggS are produced in
China from Scavenger hens and are
fold in principal Chinese markets at
prices ranging from 4 to 6 cents per
dozen in normal times, and at prices
ranging from 6 to II cents in abnor-
NAL times"
The American farmer cannot prof
itably produce and market eggs in
normal times at less than 25 cents
per dozen. Yet the new laid, strictly
fresh, clean, sanitary egg he produc-
es must compete in a way with the
o6Su, SOiu SlOId
product from the "scavenger" hens
Of China. There is absolutely no COM
parison in the value of the two. True
it is the fresh laid eggs bring a pre-
MUM over what is termed 1.-The mar
ket eggs" AT the same time the price
to be paid for the first class product
is reckoned according to the quota
tions for the shipped or foreign prod
uct.
Imports Of eggs and egg products
increased from s1,577.471 in 1914 to
$16,26S,293 In 1921 based on i'm
port value. This increase, in the face
OF heavy shipments to Europe during
the same period, indicates greater in
creases in American imports when
Europe returns to normal source of
supply.
In the past the principal imports
have been in the form of frozen and
dried eggs, but recent developm ents
in shipping facilities make it possible
TO import shelled eggs in unlimited
quantities under refrigeration at low
freight rates. One recent shipment ar
rived in New York consisting of g.
600 tons of eggs and egg products
Transportation rates from the Orient
to the United States are less than
freight rates from principal produc-
ing centers to New York markets, ac-
cording TO figures from traffic
schedules.
Many breakfast plates on Ameri-
can tables would be left untouched ii
the prospective diner could gaze
across the Pacific and see the condi-
tions under which his questionable
egg was produced. The fowls are al
WED to eat whatever they can find
Sc result being that all manner OF
i, uecayed stuff is consumed by the hen
EsSs are not gathered regularly but
remain in the foul nests for several
days before being collected, boxed
and shipping to the brokerage houses
where they take another vacation