The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-04-25
SOME ECCENTRICITIES
OF OUR IMPORT TRADE

Wool from Iceland, cotton from
China, beans from Brazil, and lob
sters from South Africa are among
the eccentricities OF commerce in
these days of high prices and inter
ruption OF the usual trade currents.
!. An analysis by the National City Bank
of New York of the commerce of the
I United States for the latest month
for which detailed figures are avail
able, February, showed the arrival of
1900 pounds of clothing wool from
Iceland, also Of 3 million pounds Of
cotton from China, imported into the
country which prides itself on pro-
ducing two-thirds Of the cotton of
the world. The records OF 1916 show
Imports Of, Holsters from Japan and
South Africa, beans from Brazil, and
onions from the Canary Islands. OF
the 5 million mushels Of onions i'm
ported into this agricultural country
in the past five years, the Canary Is
lands furnished 10000 bushels, and
Australia, on the opposite side Of the
globe. about an equal quantity. OF
the S5,000,000 worth OF mushrooms
and truffles imported in that same
period. over s250,00o worth came
from the other side of the globe. Chi
ma. Japan and adjacent territory. OF
the $3,500,000 worth OF eggs import
ed since the beginning of the war.
China alone sent nearly 100000
worth. Madagascar is now contribu-
ting vanilla beans, and materials for
hat manufacture and 100000
worth Of peanuts have been sent from
China and Japan, since the beginning
of the war.
The manHfa etHrers are ransackfng
every corner of the world for material
for their. factories. They are bringing
wool from Iceland. as above fncica,-
ted. and they brought last year from
South Africa $1,500,000 worth of os-
trith feathers, and considerable guam
titles from Brazil. Uruguay, and Ar
gentina. which now have their o.
trieh farms. as do South Africa and
Australia. Bones were brought from
India, China and the Philippine is
lands, and dried blood from Austria.
Tia, Argentina and Uruguay. Nearly
$4,000, eco worth of bristles were
brought from China into this country,
which has one-third of the swine of
the world. We sent to India for
nearly $2,o00,00N wort of indigo. for
which we paid over $500 pound,
against 35 cents a. pound in the year
before the war. We have, since the
beginning of the war, brought from
China a quarter of a million dollars
worth of human hair. Asia sent us
last year alone $13, 100000 worth of
goat skins, and over $4,000, 600 worth
of buffalo hides, and from Australia
we brought million pounds of kan
CARGO skins. From Egypt we brought
a quarter OF million dollars worth
of elephant tusks, and from Ecuador
and Colombia half million dollars
worth of vegetable ivory. West Afri-
ca sent us 1900, 000 gallons Of palm
oil, China million gallons of nut
oil, and Japan, 100000 gallons Of
soya bean OIL. Africa sent us nearly
q million pounds of rags, South Afri-
ca a million dollars worth of hair Of
the angora goat, and Asiatie Russia
three and half million pounds of
sugar beet seed.
Cufiousiy this great agricultural
country with more cattle than any
other country except India, found it
advisable to import S12, 600, 600 worth
of dairy products, bringing condensed
milk from Switzerland and Australia,
cream from Canada and Japan, cheese
tally from Switzerland and Italy, and
butter from Denmark and New Zea-
land. The pearl divers of Cey1on and
the Pacific sent us $40, 100000 worth
Of heir products, most of it, However,
by way of the European countries.
Cuba recognized our sweet tooth"
not only by sending us larger guam
tity of sugar than ever before, but ad-
ding to it $4,000 pounds of honey.
From the Orient, chiefly China and
Japan, we brought s 5000 worth of
joss sticks. Wild animals imported
for educational purposes in the zoo
logical gardens Of the United States
amount in value to approximately
$4,000 a year, and this does not in
clude those imported for cireuses or
other entertainments, exhibiting them
for profit. Persia sent half million
dollars worth of rugs. Artificial silk
comes in increasing quantities. chief
1y in the form of thread and yarn, but
In lesser quantities as woven fabrics,
the total averaging about $a,eaa,ae