Evening star., 1923-09-22
POULTRY DEALERS
|NL|VELy DISPUTE
Shippers Blame Buyers fof
Preventing Profits in Trade
Involving S10o, 600, 900.
BY J. C. ROYLE,


Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK September 22-The
local poultry trade today completed
one OF the largest weeks of one of
Its best years. Shippers say that they
ended this last month practically
without a profit. although over $10e,-
100000 worth of poultry was handled
in this market. They place the blame
on the buyers. claiming that they
have the receivers under complete
control and make prices 10 suit them
selves.
The buyers, on the other hand, are
equally bitter against the shippers,
claiming that ii is the custom of
many of the latter TO oVerfeed
chickens before they are unloaded
not only with natural food, but with
"appetizers" followed by a mixture of
sand, gravel and cement, which re-
mains in the crop. Unless a chicken
so fed is slaughtered promptly il will
die in a few days.
Crooked Methods Extensive.
Charles Sahn. one Of the largest
live poultry dealers in the city, states
that on some occasions from 1000 10
5000 pounds weight have been added
70 carload OF live poultry by stuff
fing with sand and gravel
In making the claim that 500, 900
600 worth of live poultry is handled
here annually without a profit, poul-
trymen explained that II is the GUS
tom of chicken raisers TO depend for
the major portion OF their profit on
eggs. Thus they count on each hen
TO return a profit in eggs by the
Gh al ~ fph
time many of them ship their hens
TO market. The sum received for
the hen. therefore. does not measure
the amount which the bird has yield
ed her owner.
Big Game Bird Shipments.
The rigid federal and state laws
governing the interstate shipment
and sale OF game birds has not
served to keep such birds out of the
local market. and today epicures can
buy quail as freely-provided they
pay the price-as when a game law
had still TO be heard of. These quail
are imported from the Argentine in
refrigerator ships. and the business of
bringing them tC this country, begun
three years ago, has grown to con-
siderable proportions. The principal
market Is found among the clubs and
large hotels, which also take the
larger part of the fruit arriving here
when the American varieties are out
of the market.
Mines Making Cheap Copper.
There is small question but what
the foreign market for American
copper has improved materially late
", but producers admit that demand
had failed totally to keep pace with
the increase of production. Copper is
lower at present than for long time.
being quoted at 13as cents a pound.
but that fact is carrying no terror
to the large mine owners, many of
whom are reported to be making cop
per at better than s cents a pound.
ever, will have difficulty in produc
ing at a profit at present prices, and
: this accounts for the fact that many
of the smaller companies are running
with smaller forces.
| Copper producers say that the
European demand is not a drop in the
bucket at present, but that Japan's
/! requirements are fairly heavy. There
! is said TO be an inquiry in the mar
| ket for twenty million pounds. but
months production of Utah copper
alone.
British Bitter nt French.
Nest copper men are generally un-
easy as TO the future of the red
metal until a definite settlement is
had in the Ruhr. They are far less
anxious. however. than the British
manufacturers According to reliable
cables received here the coming i'm
perial conference will be chiefly oc-
cupied with consideration of trade
prote otion. That protection British
manufacturers feel should be prin-
cipally against France. They say
French policy Is not only hurting world
| trade and keeping England out of
world markets, but that French
manufacturers, aided by low ex-
change, are underselling the English
| in their home markets. Imports from
Lyon and Roubaix have dealt severe
blows to the Nottingham lace trade
and the Yorkshire wooden trade.
The British cotton manufacturers
are desperate because of the shortage
| of raw cotton this year and the high
price OF the American staple. They
are taking desperate steps to secure
| other sources of supply. but realize
this is a matter of years of develop
ment.