The Wool Clip

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2955, 26 April 1898, Page 5

The Wool Clip

REVIEW OP THE SEASON. Seeing that the wool season '97 '98 is now praotioslly over, a few facts given by an expert in the trade will doubtless be read with interest, and the following information kindly supplied by Mr J. B. Soanlan, of this • vn. in a short interview with a representative of the Bbcos Hbbald, Bhould prove both reliable and instructive :— On enquiring as to tho general outlook and oondition of wool for the season, Mr Scanlau said that il was a difficult matter to give ao opinion, as shown by the telegrams, whioh one day would show the markets to be r*ull, while last week, for instance, prices were quite the reverse, Referring particularly to hogget wool, two or threo years ago tho m_rket waß low — l very low indeed, with no stability at all ; then it would take a bio of a rise, and afterwards baok it would go to itß original level. Aa to wool in tho Tokomairiro distriot, it was in a very dirty condition this year ; hogget wool, especially, he had nover seen so bad. The quantity waa up to the average, bat the quality waa only fairly good ; in faot, he would go short of the mark in stating tbat 60 per oent. would have to go into seconds, again referring particularly to hogget wool ; it was as poor a clip as he had seen. Asked as to the cause of the depreciation iv qu-iity in the latter, Mr Soanlan said that the wool was full of biddy-bids, whins, tnd stuff from the hedgeß. He thought it was all owing to the negleot of sheep-owners not keeping down fenoes, and not clearing the paddooks of hedge dippings. for the shoep naturally sought shelter, and bo gathered whins, clippings, &a, the dirty oondition of hogget wool eepeoially being due to tbe fact that youcg fheep more often sought shelter. " How do you think the war between America and Spain will affect the trade ?'' asked our representative. Mr Soanlan replied that in his opinion it would have the eff act of lowering pricee, and cause -be wool trade to be stagnant. Of course, said Mr Soanlan, this was only surmise, but still it would delay the wool trade for the time being. Mr Soanlan was of the opinion that in .he Dunedin dip a lot of northern wool was heavy and parts were sandy this year. Hogget wool generally was defeotive, tender, and dirty, while staple wool was right enough only dirty, mixed, as he eaid befote. with whins and other scrub. A particularly busy season has been Mr Soanlan 'a fortune at his woolsheds, some 700 bales having been put through thia year. As showing the correctness of Mr Scanlon's prediction as to the fall in wool, the following is tho laat oable news: "Owing to the stagnation in the Amerioan wool market, caueed by the war, Amerioan buyers are reahipplog 20,000 bales of wool to London. 1 '