1861... 30,271 1860.... 1859. 15,716 41,861 .15,012 53,133 1858. .5,924 35,756 41,873 1856. 1855. ..... .16,304 12,176 WHALEBONE. 54,065 49,508 WOOL. No branch of our business has increased more rapidly than the domestic Wool trade. The receipts by the various channels show an increase of 44,581 bales over last year, 57,669 bales over 1862, and are more than double the receipts of 1861. The demand has been good throughout the year, with only occasionally a feeling of depression, in consequence of the uncertainties of the gold market. The opening prices in January last were from 75 @87c including the different grades of fleece and super and extra pulled, and with the exception of some sales of low grade in February and March at from 62 @ 65cb, the bulk of the transactions the first five months of the year were from 75 @ 85c lb. In June there was considerable excitement in the market, in consequence of the proposed increase of tariff on foreign -the rapid advance in gold and the high figures at which Wool was held throughout the country, and prices were forced up, sales having been made early in August at $1 @ $125 b, the highest point of the year. .3,830 In September and October there was 40,342 a gradual reaction, in consequence of .22,205 the rapid gold fluctuations. Sales .31,205 having been made in October at a 1,076 decline of 20 @ 25c tb from these 1,587 figures, but in November and Decem..89 ber the market became active again, .34 with very large sales at advancing .73 prices, and the year closes at from .695 95c @ $1 10 lb for common and The transactions in 3 choice fleece. December were 2,400,000 tbs, the largest business we have ever had to record in that month. It will be six months before the new clip will be available, and at the present rate of consumption, the present clip must in the meantime become exhausted, especially as foreign Wools are not available on account of their high cost. The range of prices in 1863 was from 60c @ $1 05, in 1862 from 44 @ 70, and in 1861 from 25 @ 534c b. The stock on hand amounts to 4,000,000 lbs fleece and pulled, against 5,500,000 tbs in 1863, 3,000,000 tbs in 1862, 1,800,000 lbs in 1861, 2,000,000 lbs in 1860, and 2,500,000 Ibs in 1859. The receipts have been as follows: account of the additional tariff and the high rates of gold and exchange, which materially increased the cost of importation, Cape in some instances selling as high as 75 @ 774c for superior lots. The market, however, soon became depressed, and September, October and November were very dull months, except at prices considerably under the cost of importation, and, in consequence, but a very trifling business was done. In December the market became a little more active, but prices are far from satisfactory, and the market for all grades tends to higher figures. The imports of foreign Wool have been as follows: .112,681 1862. .39,799 600 1861......31,578 5,097 1856...... 1855. ..14,999 9,751 EXCHANGE. Canada Wool has attracted considerable attention the past six months, The market for Exchange has been in consequence of the demand from very fluctuating so far as currency our worsted manufacturers, this de- sales are concerned but gold quotascription being very long staple and tions have varied very little during wanted for that class of goods. The the year, ranging most of the time sales in July and August were from from 1083 @ 109 for commercial $1 25 @ $1 35, and in some instances and 109 @ 1094 for bankers. The as high as $1 43 was paid. In Sep-currency rates opened in January at tember and October most of the Mills 165, but advanced to 280 @ 300 in were closed on account of the scar-July. Lately the business has been city of water, and no business was principally for gold, the currency quodone, but since November, good and tation being so uncertain and unrelichoice combing lots have been sold able, changing every fifteen minutes from $1 10 @ $1 25, and this descrip- in the day. The highest and lowest tion is likely to rule at very extreme rates for some have years have been prices for some time to come, as we as follows: produce very little Wool suitable for combing purposes. For the first six months of the year, the demand for other foreign Wool was quite active and clothing Wools were purchased quite freely by our manufacturers, the principal sales of Cape from January to June ranging from 35 @ 50c TREASURER'S REPORT AND ACCOUNT. The Treasurer of the Boston Board of Trade presents his acoount for the year 1864, and has the honor to state, I hereby certify, that, in accordance with Article 1st, Section 4th, of the By-Laws of the Board of Trade, I have audited the foregoing account of the Treasurer, and that I found it correctly cast and properly vouched. JAMES C. CONVERSE, PRESIDENT. |