The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-09-18 00:00:00

THE TRADE OF THE COUNTRY.

The Board of Trade returns for August are alike
instructive and interesting, as giving us valuable
Information at a critical time of the year. The value
of the imports for the month exhibit a considerable
decline when compared with 1876, though there is an
increase when comparison is made with the returns for
1875. It cannot be said that the decline is one of
value and not of quantity, because there is not much
difference between the prices current and those ruling
a year ago if we except important commodities such as I
corn, sugar, and rice, which are actually dearer, but
the returns of the imports under these heads show a
decided augmentation. In cotton and tea we have
received in value each about a million leas than during
the same month last year, and the falling off to a like
amount of the imports of raw cotton due chiefly to the
deficient crops produced in India last season is likely in
the present crisis to be felt still more in that country
than in this. Of corn the imports are large, as might
he expected from the recent rise in price, which is
attracting increased supplies from the nearer countries
whose harvests ripen early. Thus, whilst from Russia,
Turkey, Germany, and Egypt the imports chow a very
great increase, those from the United States, Canada,
and Australia have declined. It is interesting to note
that the imports of Russian produce generally continue
to enlarge, and the following figures showing the value
of these imports are probably of sufficient interest just
now to quote here:—

Ilemp

1875. 1876. 1877.
.0
706,3 M 3R2,215 9844.422
343,102 311,11,41 610,7*
11X1,001 54,41b7 141,163

£1,152,405 rrun £1,751,334
Beside the amounts directly credited to Russia there
is a large increase in the imports of these articles from
Germany, most of which, if not all, is undoubtedly
caused by the recently augmented outflow of Russian
produce thrim4h the German Baltic porta—a feature
in the trade of Russia arising out of the exigencies of
the war, and illustrating the futility of the blockade
of the Black Sea, as a means of stopping Russian
trade. Turning now to the exports, which show
a falling off, both as compared with 1876 and 1875,
we find that the decline extends to most of the
leading articles of commerce. A slight increase is
shown under the head of iron and steel, but in the case
of coal there is a decrease. The shipments of moat of
: the loading textile fabrics have also fallen off consider-
ably, but there is a continued increase in the 1
exports of coloured goods, such as justify the hope of
returning prosperity, especially in the print trade.
Taken altogether the returns do not indicate any
impirtant changes in the state of our foreign trade,
and certainly there is no sign of improvement. What
might have been experienced if there bad o been n war
it is useless to enquire, but with a great conflict on
hand which affects all Europe, dear corn at home, and
, a gigantic famine in India, anything like a general
revival of trade must inevitably be delayed.
Particular branches of commerce will no doubt
directly or indirectly he benefited by the ei its we have
named, but their broad effect must be to check the
return of general prosperity.