quarter, and but 22 for the past twelve months, which must be regarded as an unprecedented falling off. Much continues to be said and written regarding the serious decline the shipping interests of the United States are undergoing. The suggestions offered for their improvement or recovery are many and various. I do not think, however, that much stress should be laid upon the regulations and laws that at present govern the discharge of seamen composing the crews of American vessels while abroad as to consider them a sufficient cause for this serious decline in our shipping interests; it seems to me that it can be more satisfactorily accounted for by the fact that there are greater inducements existing at present for marine engi neers, mechanics, and seamen to remain engaged at home than to ship by steamers or sailing vessels for distant voyages. It is, therefore, difficult to see how any marked improvement can be expected unless by legislation with a view to encourage shipowners not only to establish lines of steamers, but also to place them in a position to succeed in inducing marine engineers and seamen to turn their attention from the land to seafaring engagements. COMMERCE. The past twelve months close with nothing worthy of particular notice regarding the general commerce of this port, especially connected with the United States; in fact, the quarter just ended was one of very little importance in anything where the trade of the United States was concerned, which may in some measure be attributed to an important, though gradual advance in the United States in breadstuffs, and also to a material one in the article of tobacco, thereby limiting operations in these two chief branches of American trade with this market. On that account the supplies of flour are now being chiefly imported direct from Marseilles, and more attention is likewise being bestowed upon the different descriptions of German, Hungarian, and other European cultivated tobaccos, which are generally neglected when Kentucky and Virginia leaf tobaccos are abundant and ruling at moderate prices. The Spanish Government still continues to exercise a strict and vigilant supervision upon the contraband trade from this port; still, to judge from the importations that are constantly taking place in the weed, if not at present of any great importance direct from the United States, at any rate in some quantity from European markets, it is evident this forced traffic is not wholly done away with, but that some encourage ment still exists to carry it on, and which is entirely confined to Spanish subjects. The importations of American alcohol during the past twelve months have reached 1,893 barrels and 38 puncheons, most of which have been distributed coastwise to Spanish markets, with, I believe, some profit. Those of refined petroleum during the same period have amounted to 33,400 cases, and were greater facilities afforded to importers by the authorities here, as to its storage for retailing purposes, I have no doubt the importations would increase considerably. According to the present regulations for this article, the importers are now placed under great disadvantages for disposing of supplies on arrival, and heavy expenses follow, which often result in losses to the interested. Want of space and military grounds are the reasons assigned for not modifying the present restrictions imposed upon this mineral oil. The rigor shown in Spanish ports towards everything relating to the introduction of bacon, hams, &c., coming from the United States has caused a lull in the supplies direct from the United States to this market, and I am aware of a lot of American hams which was intended for a Spanish market that had to be sold here recently at a great sacrifice on account of its non-admission there. The marked extension in steam navigation at this port has naturally increased the importance of the coal trade, which does not cease to be the principal traffic in this market, but on account of the continued competition among the coal dealers, the best steam coal can still be had under 218. per ton of 2,240 pounds English, which is a moderate price. HORATIO J. SPRAGUE, UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Gibraltar, October 3, 1881. Consul. PORTUGAL. Report by Consul Diman, of Lisbon. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, I have the honor herewith to transmit the annual returns of commerce, navigation, and other statiscical information of this consular district for the year ending December 31, 1880. COMMERCE OF PORTUGAL. The importations and exportations of Portugal have varied but little for the past twelve years; the importations have increased in a greater ratio than the exportations. Since 1842 there has been a very decided increase. In that year the importations were $10,612,080 and the exportations were $7,106,400. In 1875 the importations were $38,948,040 and the exportations $26,332,560; in 1878 the importations were $34,791,120 and the exportations $21,709,080. The value of the exports in the year 1878 was less than it had been in any year since 1869. Table No. 1, herewith inclosed, gives the com merce of Portugal, 1842 to 1856, and the years 1867 to 1878, consecutively. It will be seen by the statistics, that although the commerce of this country is slowly but steadily increasing, the importations invariably exceed the exportations. Of the exportations of Portugal, Great Britain and Brazil are the largest receivers. The importations are principally from Great Britain, France, Spain, the United States, and Brazil. The inclosed table No. 7 will show the relative commerce of Portugal with the various nations in the year 1878. Tables Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 will show the exportations and importations of Portugal during the years 1877 and 1878. TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES. The following statement will show the commerce and trade between Portugal and the United States since 1872, taken from the returns published by the Portuguese Government: I do not think these returns are correct in all respects, especially in regard to the values. Since 1872 the declared exports from Lisbon alone largely exceed the exports from all Portugal, as shown by these returns. In 1878 the exports from the United States to Portugal are stated in the report of the Chief of the Bureau of Statistics on commerce and navigation to amount to $3,879,866, and imports amount to $429,447, while according to the official returns published in this country the imports from the United States amount to $2,455,354.08 and the exports to $340,596.36. The department of statistics in this country has recently been entirely remodeled, and it is to be hoped that hereafter there will be less delay in the publication of their reports, and that they will be more accurate. The trade between Portugal and the United States has been steadily increasing during the past ten or fifteen years. The value of the exports from this country has for these years averaged about the same, but in the year 1880 there was a very decided increase in the exports both from Lisbon and Oporto. The declared exports to the United States from Lisbon in 1880 amounted to $782,755.26; the average of the six previous years amounted to $370,109.60. Corkwood is the principal article of exportation to the United States from Lisbon; the annual exportation for the six years previous to 1880 amounted to $324,753.70; in 1880 the amount was $582,608.29. From Oporto the principal article of export is port wine, which amounted in 1879 to $62,436.33, and in 1880 to $95,826.73. The imports from the United States are large and yearly increasing. When I came to this country as consul at Oporto in 1862 the importation of cereals, except in times of great necessity, was prohibited, and petroleum as an article of commerce was hardly known here. The admission of foreign cereals has been allowed since 1865. In the year 1879 there were imported into Lisbon cereals from the United States amounting to $3,879,000; petroleum, $187,000; tobacco, $118,000, and staves, $103,000; clocks, inedicines, sewing-machines, pumps, windmills, hardware, tramway carriages, canned provisions, &c., are also imported. The importation of pork and hams, which was beginning to be quite important, has been prohibited since April, 1879, on account of the supposed presence of the trichinose in the article. No instance was ever known of the existence of this disease in any ham or pork imported from the United States into this country, and no examination or analysis of the same was ever made here. The great drawback to trade between Portugal and the United States is the lack of regular communication. During the year 1880, 147 vessels arrived in Lisbon from the United States, but most of these vessels were chartered for full cargoes, and it is rare for a vessel to be put on for general cargo. The result is that many articles are imported via England at an increased expense, as well as being generally classed in the custom-house returns here as being of English origin. NAVIGATION. During the year 1879, 1,216 steamers and 1,719 sailing vessels entered the port of Lisbon; 1,231 steamers and 1,770 sailing vessels cleared. During the same year 281 steamers and 748 sailing vessels entered, and 277 steamers and 760 cleared at Oporto. Tables 9, 10, and 11 will show the nationality and burden of these vessels. During the year 1880, 140 vessels arrived from and 116 cleared for ports in the United States. I regret to say that of this number only 12 were under the American flag. Table No. 12 gives the nationality of these vessels. Tables showing the temperature, humidity, and rainfall for 1878, and a recapitulation of meteorological observations taken at the Observatory of Infante Don Luiz, from 1856 to 1875, are also inclosed. I regret that I am not able to transmit these reports for 1879 and 1880, but they have not yet been published. I hope, however, to be able to receive them from the observatory in advance of their publication. HENRY W. DIMAN, 2.-Statement showing the imports of Portugal for the year ending December 31, 1877. |