'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎538v] (1078/1386)

Provisions,
Salt.
16
army has been largely augmented ; and the prices of beer have materially fallen.
But it is hardly likely that these causes alone can have brought about such a
sudden development in consumption, and the most effective cause may per
haps be sought in competition. The English brewers keenly felt the competition
of the German and Austrian brewers and actively sought to retain a market which
seemed to be undermined from without by continental beer and from within by
Indian beer. At the same time the practice recently adopted by the large
English brewers of " tieing ” public houses restricted the clientele of the smaller
brewers and forced them to seek openings in the foreign markets for a production
which was in excess of home requirements and the conversion of private
breweries into limited companies has been followed by the necessity of shewing
increasing sales. Hence the pushing of beer in the Indian and other external
markets.
The trade in spirits does not increase much, if it can be said to increase at
all. The imports of the year were smaller than those of the preceding year.
They amounted to 1,100,414 gallons, of which whisky 386,337, brandy 341,358,
gin 87,636, rum 38,885, and “ other sorts ” unenumerated amount to 246,198.
The consumption of gin and rum is distinctly on the decline, the imports of rum
having fallen to less than half what they were five years ago. Possibly the
place of imported rum is being taken by rum distilled according to European
methods in India. The largest share of both these liquors is consumed in Burma,
much of the rum being no doubt drunk by the Madras troops as well as by
the British soldier. The unenumerated kinds of spirits consist largely of arrack
from Ceylon, shamshu from China and the Straits, perfumed spirits and spirits
mixed with drugs or prepared for use in the arts.
The trade in wines is still less flourishing than that in spirits. Champagne
stands on the level at which it stood five years ago, and the imports are only
half what they were some years ago. Claret has steadily fallen of year by year.
Sherry has fallen to a very low point. Port appears to be recovering but the
imports do not exceed what they were many years ago. Other sorts of wines-
including those of Germany, Italy, Greece, and Australia—have increased
substantially, but the total quantity of all wines imported last year exceeded that
imported five years previously by less than one per cent. In the same period
liqueurs have increased about 27 per cent, but the imports are very small—only
13,581 gallons last year.
The import of salted fish still continues on an extensive scale, though
not so large as last year. Of 18 million pounds imported, Burma received
about 10] million pounds from the Straits, the increase of the salt duty having
given a stimulus to this trade, the imports being free of duty. About 5 million
pounds were imported into Bombay from the Mekran and Arabian Coasts.
Imports have been as follows in the last five years:
1885-86 . . 363,088 tons.
1886-87 . . 416,592 „
1887-88 . . 423,897 „
1888-89 . . 398,810 „
1889-90 . . 410,808 „
The increase of price in Liverpool salt to which reference was made in
the review of the trade of 1888-89 has had the effect of reducing imports from