It is generally accepted that cargoes from China will contain about 10 per cent. of foul feathers, and the necessary allowance is accordingly made, but when there was a notable scarcity of the article the importing countries, rather than be starved, accepted a much larger percentage than this, as they did in respect of other commodities. Since, however, conditions have begun approximate to the normal they have no longer been prepared to accept a similar percentage of foul feathers, though unfortunately cargoes from' China have continued to contain a much larger ratio than the 10 per cent. accepted in normal times. The unhappy consequence of this has been largely to disorganize the trade from China, and it may be pointed out. that further disorganization may have. serious results. Although Germany is no longer in a position to take her accustomed supplies, Great Britain is now able to meet current rates, and it would be most unfortunate if continued adulteration by foul feathers were further to hamper this branch of exports.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.