Smyrna times., 1927-03-16
STATES BUREAU OF MARKETS
GIVES WARMING TO SHIPPERS
W. T. DERICKSON, DIRECTOR
SHOWS WHAT BUREAU is DOING
Urges All to Investigate Firms to
Whom They Make Shipments
reau Willing to Assist Growers

Urges All to Investigate Firms to
Whom They Make Shipments-Bu-
reau Willing to Assist Growers
Inasmuch as the time for shipments
Of all kinds of farm produce is close
at hand, the Bureau of Markets, w.
4. Derickson, director, Of the State
Board of Agriculture, again desires
to issue its annual warning to Della
ware shippers against shipping to
persons or firms of whom they have
no accurate knowledge and no in
formation regarding their business
methods and responsibility During
the past year, they have been called
upon to investigate numerous cases,
both within and outside the State Of
Delaware, in which returns to the
shippers are far below what the ship
per had reason to expect, and in some
cases there were no returns whatever.
In investigating these cases, it is gen
orally brought out that the shipper
consigns his products to receivers in
the various markets without making
any effort to find out the commercial
standing, reputation, or reliability of
the person to whom he is consigning,
and that too late he finds out he has
made shipment to an irresponsible
dealer. While the Bureau of Mar
kets cannot vouch for the financial
integrity Of any receiver, they are al
ways glad to secure for shippers all
the information available concerning
70 ~ IL,
their products, and no shipper should
have any difficulty in finding reput-
able and reliable commission firms in
any of our Eastern cities. They also
believe that the local banks would be
only too glad to assist the shippers
in making proper business connec-
tions in the cities. In making ship
ments to the State Of New York, and
particularly to a large market like
New York City, Delaware shippers
should bear in mind that the State of
New York has a law requiring those
who handle produce on commission to
be bonded to the amount Of 100000.
Shippers who deal with such firms
have prior lien on this bond in case
Of bankruptcy Of the dealer or of any
delinquency on his part, and the Bu-
reau believes that shippers should
by all means deal with those commits
sion men who are bonded in the New
York markets. If they are not bond
ed, the thing to do is to find out why
not A complete list of those COM
mission merchants who are bonded is
on file in the office of the Bureau Of
Markets at Dover, and we will be glad
to advise any shipper who scontem-
plates making shipments to that city
as to whether or not the person or
firm to whom they desire to make
shipments is bonded. The Bureau has
recently been advised by New York
Bureau Of Markets that nineteen
claims, filed by Delaware shippers,
against the bond of New York City
commission firm which failed in 1925
had all been paid in full, amounting
to nearly 100000, and that notwith-
standing the fact that these shippers
had all been paid the full amount,
there were other general creditors of
the firm who were not protected by
the bond and who received only about
10Gt of their claim. Many hundreds
of dollars have been lost to Delaware
shippers during the past year by
making shipments Of not only fruits
and vegetables, but particularly poul-
try and eggs, to firms without investi-
cation. and we strongly urge that the
shippers Of Delaware make the neces-
sary Investigations before making
shipments. as after the shipments are
made it is often a case Of locking
the door after the horse has been
stolen" and little time spent now in
an effort to establish reputable and
reliable business connections for use
later in the season will pay big re
turn. The Bureau of Markets has, in
many cases, been able to assist in
making collection; however, all too
frequently we find that there is moth
ing from which to collect. Ask your
banks to find out the rating for you
of those to whom you desire to make
consignments, or communicate with
the Bureau of Markets.