THE FREIGHT MARKET.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10777, 3 October 1900, Page 6

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

The "Daily Commercial News and Shipping List" of September 18th, says:—"The principal feature of the week has been a course of bold chartering of sailing vessels for the London berOh at from 52s 6d to 54s 6d per nett register ton. This means ÜBcfeviating rates of or |d else a loss. With a little firmness on the part of the charterers, these figures may be attainable, but consider in g that there is small chance of sailing vessels now on the berth arriving in time for th> .January sales, the charterers of sailing vessels at tlhe above high prices would seem to have pinned their faith upon the assumption that shippers will prefer to face the March sales rather than send wool by stenroeir. for the January series, and really the tendency of the market points in that direction. But much if not everything depends upon the London sales of the 9th October. We hear that theemail lines are firm—shippers say obstinate—at }d and £d. Nothing seems to have been booked at. these figures, but other cargo with at least a payable equivalent must have been obtained in place of our staple export. The butter season is almost in full swing, and the refrigerated spaces will be well if not completely filled. With regard to what, for want of a better' term, we call outside steamers, owners, under the fear that rates will not prove f-o bo remunerative this season, have diverted much tonnage to a more payable direction, and at the present moment steamers actually fixed for homeward loading are under offer for recharter for employment in the China Seas. Notwithstanding this partial scatterment of the fleet, there would seem to be plenty of tonnage left for our re-'u:laments. Active business continues in the Ea-Aern direction, and one or two very sensational charters have been mad:e. Dates of guarantee of delivery, or shipment, and fear of ice troubles may have had much to do with the engagements, but certainly tonnage ia scarce. Sailing vessel rates may be taken at £d and |d for wool, 40s tallow, 45s to 50s for copra, 12s 6d to 15« for weight. For steamers and fd wool, 55s leather, 70s for skins, 25b to 30s for weight outside contract rates."