The spring season has been a considerable disappointment, not only in regard to prices realized, but particularly also in respect of volume. In consequence, local prices for shell hen eggs declined to $17. per picul, whilst previously, the lowest price seen for a great many years had been $23.50.
The Autumn season brought an] improvement In price, hen eggs ad-vaneing to $23. but the volume of business was again only moderate.
'The Hankow factories under foreign' control are feeling the competition by native factories in North China, to @ growing extent, and are only able to hold their own by reason of their superior quality out-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.