108 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.
therefore less complete than could be obtained under normal circumstances.

Lt is notable that, so far as this district is concerned, the number
of important trade combinations has decreased in recent years.
Moreover, this is not a result of legal restraint. It appears, in fact,
that certain combinations were not as harmonious or-successful as
had been anticipated, and freedom of action was found more profitable.
 For instance, several years ago there existed an understandin
petween the Marseille and Paris sugar refineries, whereby iy
sugar was sold at uniform prices throughout the country. This
understanding had resulted in rendering the refineries independent
within certain territories. At the present time there is, so far as
sould be ascertained, no agreement in limitation of competition in the
refined-sugar trade.
Sulphur refiners.—In 1909 the majority of the sulphur refiners in
France entered into an agreement, whereby they undertook to limit
their output as follows:
Names of refiners: ~
A Boude &amp; Fils, Marseille naam mom eee
Louis Esmieu, Marseille. ,
Adolphe Gouin &amp; Cie., Marseille_______. _ en
La Société des Produits Chimiques de Marseille-I.’Estaque ea.
Les Usines Vézian &amp; Chambon, Marseille. oom
La Compagnie Bordelaise, Frontignan________ _ meee.
Les Usines Cros, Narbonne mem
M., LOMATOSUIIEE, (IBLE mimi mir mi imme se eS iS mop pint
La Société Marty Parozol, Narbonne_____________ oo
L. Julien Pare et Fils, Cette mmm oe eee eee eee eam

Limit of annual output
(metric tons).
7, 850
4, 450
4, 500
2,110
11, 900
6, 400
12, 000
2, 500
7, 300
7 100

Total eee mine mmee 68,110
This arrangement was based upon the average production of these
refineries during a number of years. The refiners also undertook to
buy the crude sulphur for their respective requirements from an importing
 company of which they were the only stockholders. If they
chose to purchase sulphur directly, they had to pay into the treasury
of the importing company a sum of 5 francs (96 cents) for each ton of
sulphur thus purchased. This sum of 5 francs was divided at the end
of each year among the members of the syndicate in proportion to
the amount of sulphur refined, sold, and delivered during the year.
Whenever a refiner bought a quantity of sulphur in excess of that
which had been fixed under a agreement, he had to pay to the
importing company a sum of 15 francs ($2.895) for every ton, instead
 of 5 francs. This compelled him indirectly to raise the price
of his refined product at least 1 franc (19.3 cents) per 100 kilos
(220.46 aii), Another indirect consequence of the agreement in
question was that the refiners were compelled to sell their product
at about the same price; at any rate they could not profitably sell it
at lower prices than the others. The agreement was so framed that
the parties thereto were theoretically free to act as they pleased, but
in practice they found it to their advantage to follow the lead of the
majority.
This y ningtion came to an end in December, 1912, but most of
the above-mentioned concerns have still an understanding, the exact
nature of which is not known. The following firms have combined
as the Raffinéries de Soufres Réunies, capital stock 2,200,000 francs