The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-02-12
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY, II.

THE statistical tables which we published last week
may be considered as the balance-sheet exhibiting the
trade and commerce Of this kingdom for the year
1856 and, so far as they are correct, will enable US,
by comparison with former years, to judge whether
the nation is making any progress or not in real
wealth. Exports are considered as the true basis of
national wealth if their increase is in a greater
ratio than that of the imports, a nation becomes more
independent if they decrease, while the imports in
crease, a nation becomes more dependent on foreign
capital, if not really poorer.
According to the tables published by the Collector
General, the importations during 1856 are made to
foot up 81, isl ,422 90 the exports at only half that
amount, or $685., 544 %, emitting the sum OF
$87, 280 As, which is stated to be the produce of
vessels bearing the Hawaiian flag. Why not add this
amount also? The kingdom certainly ought to have
the credit, in her general balance account, of the
produce of her soil, or the produce of her flag, which
is the same thing, whether the producers are foreign
ers or not, or the vessels foreign bottoms. Our total
exports should then appear as $67O,824 81 and not
$5S3 ,544 %. Still the balance against the islands, is
large, and many Will ask how it is cancelled ? 1t is
paid for by cash, or what is the same, bills of ex-
change. The amount of bills Of exchange Of all kinds
drawn at the islands has been less this year than
usual, but the average for several years cannot be
less Lndu SOOO,OOO, " III average IL dDOul SZ,tUU 10
each whale-ship. Allowing that a portion of this is
taken up by coin imported expressly for investment
in bills, the sum of $3.50, 900, or perhaps more, can
be carried to the general merchandise account of the
kingdom. If this assumption is correct, the account
will then stand
domestic and for. produce exported, s65O,s24 81
Cash, or bills Of exchange, 100000 90
Total exports, $~1,15O,s2l 67
Others may come 10 Il different Tosu't, - claiming
that the Custom-house valuation of exports is not
the full sum which the exporters actually receive,
while the amount Of bills sent away is less than the
above estimate.
In estimating the &c supplies furnished to whale
ships, the Collectors figures differ so much from
those Of former years, that a question arises as to
their correctness. For the year 1855 he estimated
that each whale ship took, on an average, $275
worth of supplies, or island produce; this year they
take 1875 worth a decided advance in their ex-
penses, and, if true, would appear to confirm the sus-
picion our cotemporary brpached at some time since,
abiding then to Lahaina, that captains might be
controlled by parties 9 interested in the expenditure
Of supplies At first we supposed it was only a
blunder of the printer, but are informed it is ' all
correct" If the Collector has got facts to back him,
very well; but, from all our inquiry and observa-
ton, we do not think either Of the sums named is
correct, and that $500 is a fairer acreage for the
amount of domestic supplies or recruits furnished to
each whale ship. One captain states that his average
expenditures for supplies for ten years past have not
exceeded $3.50 a year. Others spend more. Re
pairs, water, disbursements, advance to seamen, and
other expenses, not properly called supplies %
make the average of bills of exchange, as before esti-
mated, $2,400.
In examining the table of domestic exports, it will
be observed that the expectation of our staple pro-
ducts has not increased rapidly, though the sum
total of domestics exported in 1856 is much in ad-
vance of previous years, excepting only the '' potato
year, 1850, which apparent increase is owing
somewhat to the different estimates Of the supple;
furnished TO whale ships. We give q comparison o
some Of our staple exports for four years: