The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-14
Some CuriositIes of Commerce.

yival Of q Parliament at Edinburgh.
Some Curiosities of Commerce.
From time to time there Is published by
the Bureau Of Statistics in the State De-
| partment at Washington pamphlet re-
| sembling monthly magazine in size and
| Typography. containing recent reports from
| the Consuls and commercial agents OF the
United States in various parts. in reference
to the commerce. manufactures. and In
| dustries of the countries in which they are
stationed. We have just received the
latest Of these pamphlets.
| Perhaps the most striking report which
| It contains is one upon the canary bird in
| dustry in Germany. contributed by Mr..
GEORGE H. MURPHY. who is clerk in the
| Consulate-Generalo OF the United States at
Berlin. He tells us that among the articles
exported from the consular district OF
Hanover to this country during tho last
quarter Of 1891. canary birds occupied the
third place in money value. About 250,0O0
canary birds are raised In Germany every
year. and OF these about 100000 come to
the United States and $4,000 go to
England. Tho birds are raised for the
most part by very poor people as
a means OF adding to their meagre
incomes. For example. Mr. MURPHY cites
the case Of village tailor in Hanover who
goes about from house to house to do his
work. and earns 33,i cents day. making
his annual earnings 500 il he works 800
days in tho year. He has to pay over SIG
year for rent. leaving less than $s4 with
which to support himself and family. con-
sisting of six persons in all. It will readily
be perceived that it is a matter OF consider
able Importance to man 30 situated to be
able to make few dollars additional every
year by raising canary birds. The indus
try Is largely in the hands Of poor weavers
in the province OF Hanover, and is carried
on to some extent among the mountainous
of the Hartz districts. where the finest
singers are bred.
Mr.. MURPHY declares that the German
birds surpass the celebrated Norwich cana
RES raised in England. About two-thirds
of the entire number which are brought to
the United States "are imported by Ger
man resident OF New York whose German
home is at Aklfeld. in the province of Han
over, whittier the birds are brought from
ell parts Of Germany. At Braunlage in the
Hartz this man has a factory which Is
capable OF turning out every day the
material for one thousand bird cages. This
material is given out to the peasants. who
make the cages at home" When shipped to
New York about 1000 birds are sent at once
under the care Of an attendant, who has to
| feed them and look after their wants upon
| the voyage. This same German dealer
sends out buyers into various parts Of the
T,,;t trtr -, It,,.4, IL
| to Germany. and his annual importation Of
American birds comprises about 5000 Vir-
| ginia cardinal birds, 1000 Indigo birds. and
600 hooking birds.
| Jumping from Berlin to the Bahama ISL
ards, we find a report from MIR. THOMAS j.
MCLAIN. Jr., our Consul at Nassau. which
contains pleasing account OF the growing
prosperity Of the Bahamas. owing to tho
opening OF tho telegraph cable between
| Nassau end Jupiter Inlet. in Florida. and to
| the improved mail facilities enjoyed by the
| Islands and the increase of steam commune
cation between them. The sponge trade Is
| the most i'm ortant industry Of this region,
| and is almost monopoized by the United
| States. which took $4,000 pounds out OF the
| 100000 pounds which were gathered and
cured last year. There appears to be no
| diminution In the quantity Of sponges OBJ
| tainable. but the quality is not 50 good "a
formerly; that ie tho proportion of poorer
| sponges IN each shipment Is Increased.
There are two consular reports from Spain
| In this pamphlot ono from Malaga. whore
| the United States Guverumsnt is repre.
scented by Mr.. I. NJ, NEwsoN as Consul, aad
| the other from CarthaGefa, where Mr.. G.
| MOLINA Is uuc consular represep tatiye
| Both of these gaat!clnua rrar2t the nor
appearance Of tho American Dag ut tia
ports at which they SIZE ataioTcd. Mr.
| NEwSON says: mot an American yessal of
any k!ud has maze is sUpearanc, at our
port Tor the past two years, One who loves
| his country luci,5 to gene upon tho Stars
and Stripes OF IL coin'tnrcial steamers and
shipJ; but they cono rot" Mr.. MOLINA
| writes: NO American vessels entered
this port dGFiug tte year 1881. The
bulk OF the tridB with tha Urited
Statos cunG!uues to be done in British bot
toms." At Malaga. howcver. there arc
plenty of American sewing Ipachines, II
there aro no American shlps. The Consul
says that MI establishment for the sale ot
! such machines has been uainLai ned in that
city Tor more than ten years. and That 1000
machines are sold annually, making yearly
sales OF about $4,000 IN Malaga. Iio ulso
tells us that he recently discovered some
American machines for making stockings