-2- January. The gap between stocks held by Merchants this year and last has nearly doubled since the end of January, from 350,000 tons less to 672,000 tons less in spite of further reductions in disposal. Since the end of January, therefore, the gap between total distribute stocks (excluding Service Departments) this your and last has increa### by 2,120,000 tons and 1,330,000 tons of this increase occurred during### March due to losses in supplies during the strikes. Service Departments in Great Britain now hold 822,100 tons compared with 960,000 tons in February, and 1,051,000 tons a year ago.