6. Total distributed stocks (excluding those held by Service Departments and merchants) fell by 1,192,000 tons over the month, and were 2,445,000 tons below the levels of a year ago. (At the end of December the deficit compared with the previous year was only 1,127,000 tons) Stocks of domestic coal held by merchants were approximately 1,780,000 tons at the end of the month, compared with 3,121,000 tons a year ago, and those held by Service Departments were 1,136,000 tons, a drop of 137,000 tons over the month.