1014 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 24, 1916. _________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ goods from vessels using British coal. Those traders who feel aggrieved at this action have an _________________________________________________ obvious remedy. They can make such arrangements as may be possible to do without British bunker coal. It may be taken for granted that the British Government is too much awake to the national interest to have lightly placed these firms upon the proscribed list. It is solely a war measure, and its necessity is proved by nothing so much as the efficiency with which it can be enforced against enemy trade in whatever form it may be disguised. The purely ethical aspect of this question, as opposed to the political side, would furnish material for interesting polemical discussion, with which we are not now concerned. There is an inherent weak- ness in the morality of all war measures where non- combatants are concerned. Experience, however, shows that such measures are often indispensable; and not infrequently those neutral countries which have been the loudest in their complaints can be shown to have been themselves the worst offenders when occasion demanded. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 23. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Conditions in the west of Scotland coal trade are stil^ rather unsatisfactory, and collieries are finding business difficult to negotiate. Tonnage continues very scarce, and although the position in this respect has been relieved to some extent during the past few days, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Best ells are particularly quiet, and the price is pretty much a matter of arrangement. Splints are comparatively well placed, and navigations remain about 30s. to 33s. per ton. Steams, on the other hand, are weak. Household sorts are now very busy, and sma.ils of all sizes are in good demand at recent prices. Shipments amounted to 105,372 tons, compared with 95,049 in the preceding week and 87,276 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. ____________________________________________________ THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, November 23. ___________________________________________________ The whole of the tonnage coming forward into the London market, both by rail and by sea, is quickly absorbed by the ordinary current orders, so that little opportunity ist given of putting any into stock, and the bulk of the depots are exceedingly bare of supplies. London householders are keen on supplies for the coming winter, and the limited tonnage coming forward is taken up at once by orders on hand. Fortunately, the carmen and loaders are working freely and regularly. Seaborne qualities have been fairly plentiful. All the cargoes arriving in the Thames are for contract, and therefore not offering on the open market. The railborne qualities have shown a material diminution in the tonnage, and, since the munition works and Government requirements are the first consideration, the quantity for ordinary Landon Use has been lessening each week lately, and becomes more and more acute. The supply of railway wagons isi also causing considerable anxiety in many quarters, for collieries are beginning to feel the pinch of so many trucks being removed from the coal traffic for use in other directions. Buyers are still keen in securing every available ton of either house or steam coal, and during the week the attendance on the market has increased. Best hard steam coal is very difficult to obtain, and kitchener cobble® and bakers’ nuts are short. Slacks continue plentiful. All prices are stationary. No change has been made in the pit prices prac- tically throughout the whole year, and prices on the London market are now the same as in midsummer last. The Bail- way Commissioners have decided that from December 11 next no parcel exceeding 1 cwt. in weight will be accepted for conveyance by passenger train unless accompanied 'by a passenger. The shortage of portersi presumably has brought this about. In the freight market, exporters report that they find the greatest difficulty to secure vessels for the conveyance of coal awaiting shipment. Bate® for shipping are firmly held. Licences are fairly and freely distributed, but the shortage of ships has caused a large number of the loaded trucks to be held up at the sidings. Prices are in some case® weaker at the Humber ports, but only on account of the difficulty in securing boats. Derbyshire hards are 28s.; best South Yorkshire hards, 30s.; and gas coal, 26s. per ton f.o.b. The Swansea market is reported to be overstocked with coal owing chiefly to the heavy gales and lack of shipping, ®o that the colliery and railway sidings are blocked with loaded wagons, and prices have been reduced in consequence. Anthracites are quoted at 28s. 6d. per ton f.o.b.; steams, 28s.; and bunkers, 20s. None of the best Admiralties are offering, but second qualities are quoted at 29s. to 30s. Patent fuel, 38s. to 39s. The number of vessel® returned as arriving in the Thames for Monday’s market was five, and 10 for Wednesday—all contract cargoes. __________________________ From Messrs. Dinham Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, November 17.—There was the usual prevailing conditions in the seaborne house coal market to-day. Good demand; nothing on offer. Cargoes, 18. Monday, November 20.—Owing to the colder weather and shorter supplies due to the gale, there was a strong demand for house coal at to-day’s market. Ships, 5. Wednesday, November 22. — The enquiry for seaborne house coal remains good, but no cargoes offering on the market. Ships, 10. __________________________ Current L’st week’slLast year’s prices. prices. prices. Steam coal 22/ -27/6 1 23/ -27/ i 15/6-17 6 Ell ! 25/ -25/6 25/6-27/ ;18/3-18/6 Splint 1 i26/ -32/6 25/ -32/6 ! 19/ -24/6 Treble nuts 23/ 23/ ! 18/6-19/ Double do 22/ 22/ } 18/3-18/6 Single do 21/ 21/ I 16/9-17/ IRON. The position in the Scotch iron trade continues one of extreme activity. Government demands become more and more insistent, and the outputs from the various branches of the trade are almost entirely reserved for war purposes. In the pig iron trade the demand for haematite is still the principal item, and producers are having great difficulty in meeting requirements. Best qualities of ordinary brands, too, are also becoming scarce. Shipments for the past week amounted to 1,813 tons—1,388 tons foreign and 425 tons coastwise—compared with 1,335 tons in the same week last year. 1 ig iron warrant stocks now amount to 5,628 tons, against 116,098 tons at the end of 1915. The prices of Scotch makers’ iron are quoted as follow:— Monkland and Carnbroe f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1,125s., Nos. 3, 120s.; Govan, No. 1,122s. 6d., No. 3, 120s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1,130s., Nos. 3,125s.; Gartsherrie, No. 1, 131s. 6d., No. 3, 126s. fid.; Glengarnock, at Ardros^an, No. 1, 130s., No. 3, 125s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmellington, at Ayr, Nos. 1, 126s. 6d., Nos. 3, 121s. 6d.; Shotts and Carron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s. per ton. Malleable iron makers are full up with work in all departments. Their output of steel bars is practically all on Government account, but a large general business is being done in iron products. Mild steel bars are quoted .£16 10s. to £17 per ton for basis sizes and “crown” iron bars about £14 12s. 6d. per ton, net, for export. Black sheet makers are exceptionally busy, and mills are running unceasingly with only an occasional stoppage due to irregular supplies of raw materials. The heavy gauges are in large demand both on home account and for shipment to the Allies. The price is unchanged about £18 5s. to £18 10s. per ton net, f.o.b. Glasgow. _________________ Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. Business at the collieries in the Lothians is very quiet. The demand has fallen off to a considerable extent, and, despite a reduction in prices, outputs are difficult to dispose of. Shipments amounted to 33,748 tons, against 21,728 in the preceding week, and 36,241 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. __________________ Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities..... Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do............... Current prices. 28/ 27/ 23/ -25/ 22/ 21/ _______ L’st week’s [Last year’s prices. I prices. 30/ -32/ ( 17/9-18/6 29/ -30/ j 17/ -17/6 23/ -26/ | 191 -20/ 22/ | 18/ -18/6 21/ 16/ -16/6 THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Business has been slow again the last few days. Nothing definite has yet been fixed in regard to a minimum selling price; 26s. is about the figure generally quoted to-day, although makers could probably be found who are willing to take a shade less, for prompt specification, for class A work. Stock plates, of course, realise more money where no certi- ficate is needed, but so far as manufacturers are concerned, they will not be able to sell their stocks in future without an A or B permit. Current quotations may be called :—Coke tins : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 26s. per box and upwards; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 52s.; IC 14x18} (124 sh. 1101b.), 30s. IC squares and odd sizes, 27s. 6d. basis and upwards. Charcoals, 30®. basis and upwards. Coke wasters are in moderate demand. Quotations : C W 14 x 20, 29s. 6d. per box and up; C W 28 x 20, 57s.; C W 14 x 18}, 29s. 6d.; C W 20 x 10, 42s. 6d. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. In the Fifeshire district the turnover is still largely con- fined to screened navigations and first-class steams. Third- class qualities are very inactive and values declining. Clearances reached the total of 39,985 tons, against 5 ?,655 in the preceding week and 58,406 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. __________________________ Grimsby Coal Exports.—The returns for the week ended November 17, show that 3,102 tons of coal have been exported from Grimsby, compared with 1,960 tons in the same period last year. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Best screened navigation prices. prices. prices. coal 30/ -35/ 28/ -32/6 30/ -40/ 23' -24/ Unscreened do 28/ -35/ 21/ -22/ First-class steam coal 28/ -33/ 22/ 30/ -33/ 19/ -19/6 Third-class do •T; 22/ 14/ -14/6 Treble nuts 23/ -26/ 23/ -26/ 18/6-20/ 16 6-17/6 Double do 22/ 22/ Single do 21/ 21/ 15 9-16/ _______ The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 179,105 tons, compared with 169,432 in the preceding week and 181,923 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. N e wcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 106,093 tons of coal and 5,877 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 16,824 tons of coal and a decrease of 2,131 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 23,925 tons of coal and 11,894 tons of coke, a decrease of 13,097 tons of coal and an increase of 4,916 tons of coke. The Bly th shipments included 48,669 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 7,263 tons. Thus the shipments from these three places aggregated 196,458 tons of coal and coke, a decrease of 751 tons when compared with the figures for a year before. The good show of shipping, which was a feature of the market up to the middle of last week, showed a marked falling-off ere the week finished, and by Saturday the market was hampered almost as much as ever for want of prompt tonnage. The week-end played havoc with vessels striving to make North -Sea ports. Many were driven ashore—total wreckage resulting in some cases— and many others found it expedient to beat about the ocean rather than risk an entrance into port. The result was that, on Monday and Tuesday last, the prompt market was almost bare of the requisite tonnage, and a short-distance slump set in. By Wednesday a large number of the expected vessels had reached port, and the situation markedly improved. At the time of writing producers are not holding excessively large supplies of coal for prompt ship- ment, although figures are considerably easier on the week. F.o.b. quotations for spot loading have declined as follow on the week:—Best Bly th steams are from 2s. to 5s. cheaper ; Tynes, 2s. 6d. down; Bly th seconds, easier; Tynes, ditto; unscreened, 2s. 6d. lower; Bly th smalls, ditto; Tynes, ditto; specials, Is. 6d. reduced; smithies, 2s. 6d. down; seconds. 2s. lower; specials, weaker; unscreened bunkers, Northumbrians, in buyers* favour; coking coal, ditto; smalls, 2s. cheaper; households, 2s. 6d. fallen; coke, foundry, 2s. to 2s. 6d. less ; blastfurnace, 2s. to 3s. lower; and gas coke, Is. down. Gas bests and Durham bunkers alone are unaltered. The forward enquiry is active, with purchasers showing more inclination to operate. Whilst it is impossible to forecast with any degree of certainty what the state of future tonnage supplies will be, there is reason to believe that, between now and the end of the year, these will show some improvement, hence the greater buoyancy of forwa’d business. Best Blyth steams for January-March delivery have been sold at 32s. 6d. per ton, f.o.b., and for delivery over the first half and the whole year at 35s. Blyth smalls for January-March shipment have been sold at 21s. Considerable quantities of Durham unscreened coal are stated to have been sold for delivery over the whole or part of next year at 26s. for bests and from 23s. 6d. to 24s. for second-class sorts. Good Durham bunkers for delivery to coaling-station contractors over next year have been sold at from 25s. to 26s. Gas coals for shipment to France and Italy have been largely sold for similar delivery at limitation figures. There is, as yet, no news regarding the enquiries, reported last week, for 18,000 tons of best steams for December delivery to the Danish State Bail way s; 11,000 tons of Wear gas specials for delivery to a Danish municipal gasworks (delivery De- cember-February and not December only, as stated last week) ; and 10,000 tons of steams for November 20-December 20 shipment to the Norwegian State Bailways. Fears are expressed lest the two railways’ contracts have been placed with Germany. In addition to the North-Eastern Bail way Company’s enquiry, previously reported, several local manufacturing concerns are now on the market for supplies of industrial fuel for delivery over next year at the figures fixed by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current ; L’st week’s’Last year’s prices. } * 1 28/ -30/ 27/6-30/ 25/ -27/6 ' prices. ! prices. 30/ -35/ ; 19/6-20/ 30/ -32/6 19/ -19/6 27/6 ■ 17/ 27/6 25/ -27/6 ; 20/ 20/ 17/6 27/6 -22/6 20/ -25/ 20/ -22/6 17/6-20/ 21/ -22/6 17/ 15/ -16/ 10/6-11/ 10/6 12 6-13/ 20/ 20/ -22/6 16/6-17/ Steam coals :— I Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths ....■ Do. Tynes (Hastings} . or West Hartleys) ...} U nscreened __________j Small, Blyths ........! Do. Tynes..........! Do. specials........j Other sorts:— | Smithies..............j Best gas coals (Newi Pelton or Holmside)' 27/6-30/ Secondary gas coals; (Pelaw Main or similar) j 19/ -21/ Special gas coals ......j 27/6-30/ Unscreened bunkers, | Durhams 18/ -20/ Do. do. ‘ Northumbrians 19/ -20/ Coking coals..... Do. smalls .... House coals .......... Coke, foundry ...... Do. blast-furnace ... Do. gas .......... 27/6-30/ 21 -23/ 30/ i 18/ -20/ s 20/ 20/ 19/ -20/ : 18/ ; 18/ -20/ 30/ -32/6 30/ -35/ 38/ -42/6 40/ -45, 34/ -36/ > 36/ -39/ 32/ -34/ 33/ -35/ 19/6 16,9-17/ 20/ 16/ -17/ 15/6-16/ 16/6-17 6 16/ -16/6 20/ 32/6-35/ 32/6 26/ -28/ Sunderland. COAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 55,855 tons of coal, as compared with 68,735 tons for the same period of 1915, a decrease of 12,880 tons. Market con- ditions are no better, the interrupted shipping traffic on the coast, together with the fact that Norwegian steamers are still avoiding the Anglo-French trade, pending some arrangement as to the insurance question, has restricted the supply of tonnage so much that business is almost suspended. Some of the collieries are idle, and most of them are destined to lose considerable time until the storm- bound shipping puts in an appearance. Naturally under these circumstances there is plenty of prompt coal on offer, and prices have further depreciated, it is difficult to give anything like market quotations, for buyers who are able to supply boats for this week’s loading can negotiate on easy terms. The North-Eastern Kailway Company is in the market for next year’s requirements of locomotive coal amounting to between 400,000 and 500,000 tons, and it is said that they are proceeding with the purchases under the