484 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.

It has been reported that one of the concerns which is a member
of the Union of Fuse Manufacturers was selling fuses to an American
 concern at 40 per cent cheaper than the price charged European
buyers. The following letter, from another member of the Union,
tends to verify this. Attention is called to the prices quoted for
shipment to the United States:
Dear Sie: Your favor of the 80th ultimo duly reached us. Our prices are the
following :

[Per 1,000 feet.)

Hemp fuse. .cuceeeeeemenczsoeezensncaraane.
Djme fuse (waterproof, white double fuse)..
Single tape. «uv meaeeer ieee
Double tape (not used in Belgium).....
Triple tape (ot used in Belgium)...oceeeeaaansaaeanas.
Gutta-percha with white yarning (not used in Belgium) ........

Jer roReTT CTE"

Market
price in
eleium.

frarcs,
3.40
10.25
12.62

Price for
the United
| States
f.o.b.
Antwerp.

Franer,
6.00
8.75
8.12
10.62
13.12
10.30

Wooden packages, labels, ete. included. The. above prices are to be understood
 net without any deduction, payment per letter of credit on Paris with
order. With regard to the Belgian market value of our waterproof fuse, viz,
10.25 francs, instead of 10 francs, as indicated by.the writer in Cologne, we
peg to say that the price of 10 francs was quoted “ at the factory,” whilst 10.25
francs is the market price free any railway station in this country.
We are having a price list for Belgium printed and will send same on to
New York as soon as possible. In the meantime we are communicating with
Mr. Gottschalk in Cologne and will report to you later on,
It might be preferable to substitute the word “ waterproof” by “sump”
Fuse, this being the ordinary way of calling the double fuse for export. In our
opinion * waterproof ” would evoke the idea of gutta-percha or india rubber,
and the customs authorities might feel inclined to value the fuse as a guttapercha
 fuse with white yarning. Kindly let us have by return your opinion,
because we shall eventually have to alter the labels for Star brand accordingly.
Yours very truly.

METALLIC CAPSULE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The metallic capsule manufacturers of France and an English
concern, Betts &amp; Co., with a branch factory at Bordeaux, entered into
the following agreements: .
(a) For the sale of bottle caps in France, Algiers, and Tunis.
(8) For the purpose of regulating the export of French bottle
caps into the United Kingdom.
The terms of the respective agreements are as follows:
AGREEMENT (A).
[Translation from the French.)

Between the undersigned (1) Mr. Campbell, living in London, acting in the
name of Messrs. Betts &amp; Co., whose head office is in London, 1 Wharf Road
City Road, and of which company he is managing director, and in virtue of
powers conferred upon him by the board of directors of the said company, of
the one part; (2) Mr. Blanchard, living in Bordeaux, acting in the name of
Messrs. Blanchard Bosc &amp; Co., whose head office is in Bordeaux, cours du
Medoc No. 15, of the other part; (3) Mr. Bourhis, living at Dijon, Rue
A'Tle Nos. 83 and 85 acting in the capacity of director of the * Compagnie