via Brindisi
286 Burkett Road
25 November 1884
My dear Chris,
I was very pleased indeed to receive your letter this morning. It was very strange that the same should have reached me just after I had written you. Well, I may tell you at once that I shall be glad to work anything that may be mutually profitable, and if I do it at all you may depend upon my doing it thoroughly.
Opossum skins I have been watching the market for these for some time past. Chris Tatham first proposed trying them, and I have sent him all the necessary particulars and recommended a small trial-shipment. Somehow he did not appear to see his way to ship, and I therefore gave an order on my own account for ₤20 worth as a trial to another firm and I expect the skins here in a few weeks.
The market for opossum furs is very strong, and has been so for some time past, and “fair to good size and color” would probably realize about up to 1s/3d each. The charges here amount to about 6 % without commissions. There is no duty. One of the largest firms of brokers here has offered to sell any that I may import, and as they are also wharfingers they would therefore work the skins from beginning to end, and the risk thereby reduced to a minimum.
The chief thing in this trade is the inspecting of the skins which must be done very carefully, and any skins showing signs of being affected with grub or those whose “pelts” bear the deleterious blue spots should most certainly be avoided. If you can lay them down here at about 10d to 1/- each (including freight and marine insurance, and the 6 % London charges) I think you might safely ship say about ₤20 worth as a trial, and I would go joint account with you. The best skins to ship are large ones, and of as blue a shade as possible.
It would be well to ship by steamer. The packing you are probably best acquainted with – this should be done as cheap as possible compatible with efficiency. If you decide to ship make the bill of lading to “order” and send it to me. As regards finance, for anything under ₤50 I think if I send you goods I must let them go free, and you can remit the proceeds to me either by bank draft of in produce, and anything that you ship to me must be treated in the same way.
If however (as I hope it may) we can develop business to a fair extent, then we can arrange to draw through a bank against shipping documents to hand to them.
The question of commission to be charged we can arrange, but I would prefer that what we might send each other, might be on joint account, each sharing half profit or loss.
I will enclose a pro-forma of sale before posting. You had better mark the packages (bales) as you like, my mark is G F A. It is better to commence numbering at say No. 101. Policy of Insurance ought to be made payable in London.
I think I have gone pretty thoroughly into the question of opossum skins, and hope we shall be able to do some good in them.
Kangaroo Skins — The last report I had upon these was dated 17 October and was as follows:
Kangaroo continues to sell readily at full current rates. Sales 5655 – viz:
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large average 20 to 25½ lbs per dozen 3s/- to 3s/5d.
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middling, average 14¼ to 17⅝ lbs per dozen 1s/9d to 2s/4d.
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small, average 6 to 10¼ lbs per dozen 4½d to 11d.
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Wallaby 3½d per skin.
Quotations are nominally – Dry:
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Large – average 20 to 36 lbs per dozen, 3/- to 4/- per skin.
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Middling – average 10 to 15 lbs per dozen, 1s/2d to 2s/4d per skin.
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Small – average 4 to 9 lbs per dozen, 5d to 1/- per skin.
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Tanned – average 9 to 40 lbs per dozen, 11d to 1s/8d per lb.
Shells I have had the control of many consignments of mother-of-pearl from Thursday Island and a few from Port Darwin. There is always a market for them here, and shells “bold to medium” sell for about ₤7/15/- to ₤8/2/6 per cwt. The sales are held monthly, but very often at intervals of 6 or 7 weeks. The charges here amount to about 5% to 6% including the customary charges. Trade Draft and loss-in-weight up to 5% ought to be taken into consideration when ascertaining the laying down cost. If you could lay them down at about ₤7 per cwt I consider them safe and would be willing to have a small interest in them. The shells should be bold, clean, as little crinkly as possible, not fishy, and trimmed.
The “chicken” kinds, that is the light shells, which in proportion to their weight contain much more pearl, fetch about ₤9 to ₤9/10/- per cwt. These “chicken” kinds are sorted out of the bulk in London, and afterwards sold separately.
Coral I will try to obtain some information upon this. I might mention that all kinds of shells sell here, it being merely a matter of cost to import them.
As regards exports from here, can you give me some idea as to the articles most saleable and their approximate value? Do you think nails, dried-fruits, seeds (vegetable and flower) or cotton goods – such as collars, cuffs &c. would do any good? In our business with Japan we send almost every class of goods and I could go to the cheapest source for most things. How would gloves – thin silk or cotton, neck-ties do? I will try to get a general circular and you can then mark what you think well of and I will be only too glad to send you a few.
If you ever have a chance of influencing large consignments of wool or other produce – if you place it in the hands of my firm (Cornes & Co Yokohama and Kobe, and F Cornes London with agents at China, Australia, and America) I would take care that you had a return commission.
I hope we shall be able to do some business together. You must try to buy cheap and I will look after the sale.
26 November 1884
In order to gain some idea of the novelties that would go off well – suppose I made up a case say to the value of about ₤10 or ₤20 of the following articles, do you think they are what are required? viz
Photographic frames, new designs ₤5
Fancy shades for lamps &c. 2
Fancy match boxes 1
Crocodile cigar cases & purses 5
(these are expensive)
Candle sticks (fancy kinds) 2
₤15
I have merely mentioned these things so that you may tell me if they are what you think well of, there have been many new designs in things of this sort brought out lately, and are for the most part cheap and pretty. How would you dispose of them – by public auction?
Other things have suggested themselves to me – such as matches, straw hats, candles, biscuits, artificial jewellery, pipes, cigars, stationery &c. it seems a miscellaneous list but I know such things are shipped, and shall be glad to hear from you as to the same, and to what extent you think well for me to ship.
I might remind you that opossum skins of a reddish color are most undesirable kinds.
Hoping to hear from you soon, and trusting you are well.
I remain, Very faithfully yours
Geo F Amor