March 17, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN 517 Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * * 35/ Superior seconds * * 34/ -35/ Seconds 30/ -31/ 30/ -31/ — Ordinary do 29/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 31/ -33/ Best bunker smalls 16/ -17/ 17/ -17/6 21/ -21/6 Best ordinaries 15/ -16/ 15/6-16/ 20/ -20/6 Cargo qualities 12/6-14/6 10/ -13/ 18/6-19/ Inferior smalls 9/ -12/ 8/ -10/ 18/ -18/6 Best dry coals 33/ -34/ 32/ -32/6. 30/ -32/ Ordinary drys 30/ -32/6 29/ -30/ 28/ -29/6 Best washed nuts 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 23/ -25/ Seconds 25/ -27/ 25/ -27/ 21/ -22/ Best washed peas 27/ -28/ 27/ —28/ 21/ —22/ Seconds 24/6-25/6 24/6-25/ 20/ -20/6 Dock screenings 14/ -15/6 14/ -15/ 20/ -21/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 30/ -31/ 30/ -31/ 31/6-32/6 Western-valleys 29/6-30/ 29/ -30/ 30/ -31/ Eastern-valleys 28/6-29/ 28/ -29/ 28/ -29/ Inferior do 27/ -28/ 26/ -28/ 27/6-28/ Bituminous coals :—■ Best house coals (at pit) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 30/ Second qualities (at pit) 22/6-23/ 22/ -23/ 29/ No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 33/ -34/ 33/ -34/ 30/ -32/ Through-and-through 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ ' 26/ -27/ Small 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ No. 2 Bhondda— Large 25/6-26/ 27/ -27/6 26/ -27/ Through-and-through 21/ -22/ 23/ —24/ 24/ -25/ Small 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 18/ —19/ Best patent fuel 35/ -37/6 35/ -37/ 35/ Seconds 33/ -34/ 32/ -33/ 30/ -31/ Special foundry coke 50/ -55/ 50/ -55/ 40/ -44/ Ordinary do. 47/6-50/ 47/6-50/ 35/ -38/ Furnace coke ! 46/ -47/ 42/6-45/ 28/ -32/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 46/ -47/ 48/ —49/ ■ 41/ * Nominal. were easy; peas, however, were firm. Bubbly culm and duff maintained their position. In the steam coal market there was a steady feeling for all descriptions. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite Best malting large (hand picked) Secondary do. Big Vein large Red Vein large Machine - m ade cobbles Paris nuts French do ~*Stove do Beans Machine - made large peas Do. fine peas Bubbly culm Duff Steam coals:— Best large Seconds Bunkers Small Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Bhondda— Large Thro’-and-thro’ Small Patent fuel Current prices. 23/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 16/6-19'6 18/ -20/ 30/ -32/6 32/ -33/ j 30/ -32/ 30/6-32/ 21/ -22/ 8/9- 9/6 3/9- 4/ 31/6-35/ 28/ -31/ 21/ —23/6 13/6-16/ 31/ -35/ ' 19/ -22/ 32/ -31/6 'L’stweek’s prices. 23/ -24/ 20/ -21/ 16/6-19/ 18/ -20/ ! 30/ -32/6 ' 32/ -34/ | 31/ —33/ 32/6-34/ • 21/ —22/ 8/9- 9/6 | 3/9-4/ j 31/6-35/ 28/ -31/ 21/6-23/6 13/6-16/ i 31/ -35/ 19/ -22/ 32/ -34/6 'Last year’s ! prices. ! 22/6-24/6 20/6-21/6 16/6-18/6 17/9-18/6 26/ —30/ 31/ -32/ 29/ -31/ 21/ -23/ 13/6-14/6 ' 11/6-12/6 1 3/6— 4/6 I 26/6-29/6 j 22/6-25/6 ' 22/6-24/6 15/6-18/6 26/6-29/ 19/6-22/6 25/ -27/6 * Previous to the war these were described as German nuts. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, March 16. but as the wages depend on piecework it' is not anticipated that there will be any great difficulty from a trade unionist standpoint. Pitwood is cheaper, and realises only 46s. to 47s. per ton. According to the official returns published by the London Custom House, the exports of coal from the Bristol Channel during February amounted to 1,372,465 tons, com- pared with 1,762,784 tons in the corresponding period of last year, or a decrease of 390,319 tons. The shipments from Cardiff amounted to 749,150 tons, against 1,073,285 tons in February 1915 ; from Newport 277,154 tons, against 334,251 tons ; from Port Talbot 157,956 tons, against 111,519 tons ; and from Swansea 182,055 tons, compared with 235,455 tons. The following table shows the quantities of coal shipped to foreign countries and British possessions compared with the corresponding month of last year:— Sweden Feb. 1915. Tons. 118,433 ... Feb. 1916. Tons. 237,303 Norway , 159,649 ... 185,702 Denmark 196,814 ... 238,343 Netherlands . 95,347 ... 137,234 France 1,327,379 ... 1,260,077 Algeria 71,207 ... 77,427 French West Africa 9,130 ... 6,628 Portugal 84,758 ... 93,672 Azores — 5,447 Madeira — . . 13,043 Portuguese West Africa ... 20,898 ... 31,470 Spain 141,615 ... 120,611 Canary Islands '77,987 ... 102,694 Italy 470,008 ... 575,144 Greece 17,973 ... 40,456 Tunis 10,177 ... 4,892 Brazil 31,138 ... 46,404 Uruguay 19,602 ... 35,613 Argentine Bepublic 104,586 ... 190,704 Channel Islands 6,704 ... 9,761 Gibraltar 52,190 ... 40,019 Malta and Gozo 6,387 ... 11,353 Egypt 37,227 ... 121,065 Aden and Dependencies 5,336 ... 11,841 Ceylon and Dependencies... 7,106 ... 9,022 IRON here has been a further rise in the price of tin-plates. IRON. Trade throughout the district last week was again active. Pressure was noted at the blast furnaces, and also in the manufacture of steel, the steel-producing establshments collectively registering double the weekly output of the beginning of last year. In the tin-plate trade work was limited. At the tube works a steady increase was noted, whilst the iron foundries were actively engaged, and engineering and fitting shops were going well. The ship- ments of tin-plates last week were 54 441 boxes, receipts from works 59,352 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 289,014 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. There is little alteration to record as to the general position of the coal market, and whilst in some departments coals are most difficult to dispose of, other coals could not very well be in better request. It certainly looks as though the anthracite sellers are in for a bad time, and it is doubtful whether many collieries are able to make ends meet. For instance, since the early part of January some of the nut commodities have decreased in values nearly 50 per cent., and for the time being, at any rate, there are little or no prospects of any improvement in this respect. Large, also, is very hard to place, and large stocks are accumulating in the “ await order ” sidings. Beans are not quite as difficult to get as has been the case, but as yet quotations have not been very greatly reduced. Peas, however, are hard to secure, and delays are frequent in having this quality sent on. Bubbly culm and duff, too, are in good demand. For steam and bituminous coals, the position is keeping very firm, and most coals are moving off exceedingly well. Large in particular is almost unobtainable as far as the inland buyer is concerned, and many sellers are asking their customers for at least a month or six weeks’ notice to prevent delays in executing orders. Bunker and cargo throughs, as well as the manu- facturing fuels, are in good request, especially the latter, which are very difficult to secure. This week’s quotations approximately are:— Prices f.o.b. The London coal trade for the past week has shown very little improvement, and whilst the demand is so strong for all qualities, the position at times is very critical. The wharves and depots are practically clear of stock, and the bulk of the merchants have an abundance of orders still unexecuted, and depend from day to day upon the arrival of fresh supplies which are coming foiuvard very slowly. Very fe^v collieries are in a position to book any further orders, and nothing but contract coal is coming forward. Smaller merchants and those who have not contracted are in a most unenviable position;, and are compelled to buy from factors, many of whom' in their quotations totally disregard the Limitation Act. The colder weather has brought in a superabundance of orders from the general public, and vdiilst the supplies from the collieries are so meagre and the difficulties of carting so great, the majority of the orders are dealt with bit by bit, and this means that regular orders are often'weeks behind. Happily, the suoav has practically gone, and the carmen are prepared to work far better with the delivery, or the consequences must have been very serious in many quarters. The attendance on the market has been well maintained, but the volume of trade has been small. The demand is strong, but the quantities offering are very meagre. On more than one occasion last w'eek, when the snow v7as on the ground, the carmen absolutely declined to take the coal out, and many of the London hospitals and infirmaries were in a terrible plight. In the seaborne market there are no fresh arrivals from the Tyne or the Humber ports; vessels leaving the Thames v'ere stopped during the week, but the river was again open for traffic before the w'eek closed; 26 arrivals of contract cargoes were reported for Monday’s market, and two for Wednesday. Freights continue abnormally high, but chartering was very quiet. No’fixtures were reported for London, but to Genoa, 97s. 6d. per ton was paid, and 95s. for Alexandria. Exporters report considerable difficulty in procuring licences for their coal cargoes, and tonnage is very scarce. Suitable boats are eagerly sought for by shippers. South Wales prices are largely nominal. Best Admiralty steam coals are still monopolised by the Govern- ment. Ordinary qualities are quoted at 30s. per ton f.o.b.; Black Veins are 30s. to 30s. 6d. ; bunkers smalls are 17s. to 17s. 6d. Cargo coals are 26s. to 33s., according to quality. Patent fuel, 26s. to 27s. 6d. per ton. Tyne steams, 33s. to 35s. ; seconds, 28s. to 30s. Durham gas coals, 26s. ; seconds, 24s.; bunker coal, 25s. best; 24s. ordinary. The Gas Light and Coke Company are reported to have pur- chased a considerable quantity of Durham gas coal for their London works, over 1916 and 1917, at 20s. 6d. per ton f.o.b., whilst some of the best coke is reported to have been sold at 42s. f.o.b. over the summer months. The merchants on the Great Eastern Bailway Company have had to con- tend with very serious delays to the coal traffic on their system, and the matter has been a constant source of anxiety for some months past, and on Tuesday last a notice was issued saying that owing to a landslip on the Southend line all passenger and goods traffic will be delayed. From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, March 10.--The scarcity of supplies and the continuance of the cold weather caused a good enquiry for seaborne house coal at to-day’s market, but no cargoes were on offer. Cargoes, 10. Monday, March 13.—The weather was slightly milder, but the demand for seaborne house coal continued good, with no fresh supplies of either Durham or Yorkshire on offer. Cargoes, 26. Wednesday, March 15.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day, which continued firm, but no sales reported. Cargoes, 2. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, March 16. and there is no prospect at present of any limitation. Labour is becoming more scarce, and raw material is advancing daily, with the result that the outlook is not encouraging. Bessemer standard cokes this week are 30s., and oil sizes 30s. 6d. and 43s. respectively, the highest rates ever known in the trade. Shipments last week were 54,441 boxes, against 59,392 boxes received from works, leaving 289,014 boxes in stock, in the docks, warehouses and vans. In the galvanised sheettrade, owing to the decline in spelter from <£102 to £85, there is a substantial reduction in quotations, and 24-gauge corrugateds, which a week ago were offering at £29, are now quoted at £28, or a fall of £1. Unfortunately there is little enquiry, and the trade continues in a depressed condition. Welsh pig iron is nominal, but the price asked is between £7 5s. and £8 per ton. Steel bars, on the other hand, have advanced, and the quotation to-day is £13 per ton, or 10s. higher than last week. Steel works are busy, and it is reported that Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds have received an order for 8,000 tons of steel rails for the Government. This is part of an order for 15,000 tons, which was reported a week or two ago. Iron ore is nominal, best rubio being 39s. to 40s., and second grades about 36s. to 37s. per ton. Scrap metals are unaltered. Anthracite:— Best malting large... Secondary do......... Big Vein large........ Bed Vein do....... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Thr ough-and-through... Small .............. Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 21/ -24/ 19/ -21/ 16/6-17/6 16/6—18/ 2:7/ -29/ 27/ -28/ 28/6-29/6 27/ -28/6 28/ -30/ 20/ -22/ 9/ -9/6 3/6- 4/6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. ' —'— 21/ -24/ ■: 19/ -21/ : 16/6-17/6 I 16/6-17/ I 28/6—31/6 ; 28/ —30/ i 28/6-31/6 28/ -31/6 32/ -34/ 20/ -22/ 9/ - 9/6 3/6- 4/6 prices. 21/6-23/ 18/ -19/6 17/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 28/6-29/6 29/ -31/ 30/ -34/ 30/ -32/ 21/ -22/6 13/ -14/ 11/ -13/ 4/ - 5/ 32/6-34/6 ! 32/ -36/ 26/ -28/ 21/6-23/6 23/6-25/6 23/ -25/ 14/ -16/ j 14/ —16/ 13/6-17/6 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ ! 19/ -21/ Swansea, \ COAL. During the past week tonnage continued extremely limited, with resulting loss in shipments of coal and patent fuel; the returns were far under the average, the shipments together being only 67,041 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change, but the anthracite coal market was still very weak. Swansea Valley large was in poor demand, values were again marked down, whilst Bed Vein large flotations were easier. Machine-made nuts and cobbles THE TIK-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Although transactions are largely confined to spot lots and second-hand parcels, there is quite a considerable enquiry for forward shipment. Makers, however, are not desirous of selling ahead to any extent; 29s. 3d. has been freely paid for 14 x 20 cokes, and 29s. 9cl. for odd sizes; and the tendency is for still higher figures, 30s. basis now' being- talked of! At the moment, quotations may be called firm, as follows Coke tins: I C 14 X 20 (112 sh. 108 lbj, 29s. 9d. to 30s. per box; I C 28 X 20 (112sh. 2161b.), 59s. 6d. to 60s.; I C 14 X 18f (124 sh. 1101b), 29s. 9d. ; I C 14 X 19J (120 sh. 1101b.), 29s. 9d.; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 42s. 6d.; I C squares and odd sizes, 29s. 9d. basis and upwards for approved specifications. Charcoal tins are firm at 32s. basis and upwards, according to tinning. Ternes are nominally 50s. a box ’ for IC 28 x 20. Coke wasters are scarce, and in good demand. Quotations very firm and advancing, viz. :—C W 14 x 20, 27s. per box and up; C W 28 x 20, 54s. 6d. ; C W 14 x W, 27s.; C W 20 x 10, 38s.; C W 30 x 21, 60s. 6d. All f.o.b. Wales, less 4 per cent. Dublin. There has been no falling off in demand, which continues to be very active, more particularly for house coals, but the scarcity is now becoming more pronounced in all directions, stocks at the moment being very low in the local yards. There is no Scotch steam coal to be obtained at present, and the price of Welsh steam is now 40s. per ton. Household coals remain unchanged, as follow:—Best Orrell, 38s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 37s.; best Wigan, 36s.; best Whitehaven, 36s.; best kitchen, 34s.; Orrell slack, 30s.; all less Is. per- ton discount for cash; coke, 38s. per ton delivered. Pit prices of Irish coals at Wolf hill Collieries, Queen’s County, are:—Best large coal, 30s. per ton; best household coal, 28s. 4d. ; culm, all prices from 3s. 4d. per ton upwards, f.o.r. Athy, the nearest railway connection with the mines, 5s. per ton extra. The coal vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 43, as compared with 45 the week previously, chiefly from Garston, Ayr, Partington., Swansea, Preston, Cardiff, Newport, Ardrossan, Point of Aire, Liverpool, and Llanelly. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays .was 18,200 tons, as against 19,000 tons the previous week. Belfast. In this port, as well as in the districts further inland, the scarcity of Scotch coal is being more severely felt, as there is increased difficulty in obtaining supplies of these qualities. There has been a serious delay to cross-Channel steamers, owing to the severity of the weather, and most of the local trades will now be affected by the suspension of steamship services to Liverpool and other ports owing to the strike of seamen and firemen. The house coal trade is active, and prices remain unchanged, viz. :—Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton ; best Wigan, 37s. 6d. ; Scotch household, 34s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6cl.; Orrell slack, 34s. 6d. Scotch steam coal runs from about 25s. to 30s. per ton, according to quality; and Welsh from 30s. to 35s. per toil for the better grades. Gas coke stands at 35s. per ton, and foundry coke from 45s. to 50s. per ton. Stocks are all much below the average. Coal-laden vessels arriving during the past week were chiefly from Neath Abbey, Birkenhead, Manchester, Ardrossan, Irvine, Ayr, Garston, Glasgow, Ellesmere Port,- Maryport, Whitehaven, Partington, Troon, Silloth, and Workington. From February 13 to March 4, the total number of colliers entering the harbour was 163,