The following observations, addressed by a Russia broker, in London, to the correspondents of mercantile house in Sydney, are useful and deserving of attention by the various parties engaged in melting and shipping tallow
London, 75, Old Broad-street,
4th November, 1843.
Gentlemen,-
Replying to your enquiry about tallow, the produce from sheeps' fat, I beg to state that its general value, if good, (that is melted clear, fresh, and of a bright colour) is from 6d. to 1s. per cwt. below that of beef tallow - if fine, in the cold weather it will bring nearly the same price - if it were here now, the value would be 41s. and 41s. 6d. per cwt., subject to a discount of 2� per cent. for cash in fourteen days from the day of sale - draft, 2 lbs. per cask and real tare.
Your last consignment was in general of inferior quality, brown colour, stale, and more than one quality in a cask ; this should be avoided, otherwise the sale is too frequently made by the sample of the worst quality;. And you lose the value of that part which is the best.
Our melters are very careful with the fat and take it from the butchers' on the day the animal is killed. When brought to the melting house, the fat is sorted over for the different qualities of tallow, and hung up on hooks to prevent its fermentation or becoming musty until they collect sufficient for a melting, but if enough can be procured at one collection, they proceed to the operation at once. Care is required not to apply too much heat, and our manufacturers use copper pans, by which the tallow is not so liable to be burnt.
You should direct the parties to use good casks, and mark the tare on each cask previous to putting in the tallow, but the tares will be greater here as the wood will absorb some of the grease.
Our present prices are very low (from 10s. to 15s. below the usual rates), its future course may be for a trifling: not a large advance, but you may be almost sure of an immediate sale.
Yours, most obediently,
John Walker.
When pouring the fat into the cask, it should be kept well stirred with a stick to prevent the wind getting into it.
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