IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) fe <^>^ ^•^s* I// p- Wm .. % V ^ fA ^ i.O I.I f IM M 112.0 1.25 .8 M. Illlii.6 i ■'/W % '^ -^ r ^.^ O 7 Photographic Sciences Coiporation 73 WEST MMIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques Tl The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfil>r.6 le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. 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Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. D D Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponiMe Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuille'. d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 film^es d nouveau de fapon d obtenir 'a meilleure image possible. D Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl^mentaires; This item is filmed at the reduction .^atio checked below/ Cd document est filmd a;(iciat:ox. MONTREAL • LOVKLL I'RIXTINC; AND PUIUJ.SHIN'O COMPANY, r.) ST. NICHOLAS STRKKT. 187G. ■M BRIEF NOTES RELATiMO TO THE RESOURCES, INDUSTRIES, COMMERCE, AND PROSPECTS or KEWFOUNDLAND. By WM. J. PATTERSON, Secretary of Board of Trade and Cork Kxchanoe AasocUTioK. '"■If MONTREAL : LOVELL PRIJlTING AND PtTBLlSSmG OOMPANF, 23 ST. NICHOLAS STRBET 1876. BRIEF NOTES. Montreal, 20tA December, 1876. Andrew Eobertson, Esq., President Dominion Board of Trade ; Sir, " / While spending a few days, in the month of August hist, in St. John's, Newfoundland, it was my good fortune to become acquainted with a number of the merchants of that city, as well as with several of the members of the Colonial Government ; and, although my stay there was certainly- not so long as I could have wished, a good deal of information was obtained relating to the colony, its natural resources and industrial facilities. Of these, I propose to give you the briefest kind of summary, in the hope that it may assist in drawing atterition to Prima Vista, the oldest of the British Colonies, " which," as one of its chroniclers truly said, " tills a fair page in the histf^ry of our first Tudor king, and which has been productive of no small amount of wealth to the British nation." - I- ■ ■• : ' - t ,n>;: .-.-,,.;! V 5--: ■. I.— GOVERNMENT. /. The Government of Newfoundland is both general and local in its flmctions. There is, for instance, no city corporation in St. John's ; all municipal matters throughout the Island, such as road-making, building bridges, keeping streets in repair, providing a police force, &c.,^are managed by a Board of Works, composed of four members, who act, as I understand it, in conjunction with, or on behalf of the Provincial Cabinet. The expenditures of that Board come out of the public chest, and are annually provided for in the estimates brought down by the Beceiver- General. Ti^e revenue is raised mainly under a taritf of Customs duties, partly specific, und partly ad-vahrem (to a small extent differential), the usual items of exemption being provided for, as in most other Colonial possessions. II.-POPULATION. The population of the colony, including Labrador, amounts now to about 161,000, their town" and settlements being scattered like a fringe along a large extent of coast around the island, — leaving the vast interior unsettled, and comparatively unknown. Of that number, 72,000 persons (including 27,000 uble-bodied fishermen) are employed during the months of Summer in the coast-tisheries, while a large number are occupied in Spring in tLe seal-fisheries. During the season of 1876 there were 20 steamers und a number of sailing vessels employed in that branch of industry. III. -CLIMATE. The common idea that Newfoundland is a cold, barren and inhos- pitable region is a mistaken one.- With reference to temperature, some oomparative tables now before me, for the year 1S74, show the mean of that year, at Bay St. George, N. F., Windsor, N. S., Toronto, Ont., and Winnipeg, Man., respectively to have been 43-8°, 42-7'', 44-3*^, and 30-8°. The number of months in which, during the same year, the tjniperature did not reach the freezing-point were ;— Bay St. George, 4 ; Windsor, 4 ; Toronto, 4; and Winnipeg, 3. The lowest temperature in 1874 at euch point was :— Bay St. George, in February, — 15-0° ; Windsor, in January, — 15-0°; Toronto, in December, — 7-5^; Winnipeg, in January, — 43-5*^. .When to this is added the fact that the recorded rain-fall in the same year was favorable in the comparison to Newfoundland, it will the more readily be believed that there are no climatic ditficulties in the way ot that colony becoming to a very considerable extent an agricultural one. IV.— AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. With reference to agricultural resources, some very interesting inter- views with Alexander Murray, Esq., the Director of, the Geological Survey, showed that there are large fertile tracts of country in the in- terior admirably suited for farming operations. In one of his reports he^says :— " The soil over an enormous area is rich and fertile, the sur- " face level or gently undulating, and roads could be easily constructed "in almost all directions. That this country is capable of raising all "or most of the cereai crops in ample abundance I see no manner o " reason to doubt, and for the produce of roots or grass it could hardly " be excelled." ■'I v.— TIMBER LANDS. Exploratory surveys in the interior of the Island by Mr. Murray and by Mr. McLeod demonstrate what, as regards timberj are the re.sources of Newfoundland. With reference to ret^ions on the Gumbo and (landor rivers, the former gentleman saj's in ono of his reports: — " Upon the south-west arm, and at various parts of the lake, groves of pine may be seen where the average girth of tlie trees is not much, if anything, less than 9 feet, and where liiany individual trees will reach to 11, 12 and even 14 feet. On about one acre of surface I measured 15 or 20 trees, the diameters of which varied from 2^ to 4^ feet, and theee, moreover, were straight, tall and sound, with stems running up symmetrically, for upwards of 50 feet, without knot or branch. What the entire extent of this timber country may be it is impossible to state with accur- acy, without making a survey ior that especial purpose ; but, from what I have seen on the surveys I have already made, and from all that I could gather from the Indians and trappers who frequent these regions, I conceive there must be an area of not less than 5000 square miles, worthy of being laid out as timber limits, where an immense lumber trade might be carried on successfully." As respects the necessity for interference for protecting the rights of the Government against depredations upon the public domain, Mr. Mur- ray recently wrote to the Governor of the Island, as follows : — " It is a well-known fact that at this moment a great saw-mill is in active oper- ation near the mouth of the Humber liiver in the Bay of Islands, where, while the proprietors ire driving a most thriving and prosperous trade, they are so doing in utter defiance of law or authority, and the country is being denuded of its most valuable timber, without receiving in return the smallest advantage, directly or indirectly." The mill in question is erected upon ground coming within the sup- posed limits of what is called the " French shore ;" but the timb^ir out of which the lumber is sawn is unlawfully taken from lands belong- ing to the Government, and about which there is no dispute. And, with regard to the value of the business done by the Squatter Sovereigns who own that mill, he adds :-j- " The owners of the saw-mi '1 in question, without any right or title whatever, either to the land or its forests, are under contract with certaiii parties in Nova Scotia to provide three millions of feet of pine lumber annually for seven years, which is only a small item of the total supply, a large proportion of which goes to the United States and elsewhere, and for which neither the Crown nor the Colony derive the value of one single penny-piece in return. Nor is it the quantity alon'e of this valuable property, of which the colony is thus ruthlessly denuded, for the mialVuj of a great proportion of it would appear to be of such extraordinary excel- lence as to command a higiier market value than any of the Continental lumber, having been quoted at from $80 to $100 per thousand feet." But there is another, and perhaps even more serious, aspect of the reprehensible raids upon the public property of the colony, to which allusion has been made by Mi'. Murray, as follows : — "Of late years, it would appear that parties are equipped annually in t)ie Bay of Chaleurs and other parts of the continent to crossover to Newfoundland, for the purpose of obtaining what is termed Ton Timber, which, according to my inform- ant, is taken from the Bay of Islands and other parts of the French Shore in great quantity. Nov it so happens, that to answer the description required, tliis timber must be absolutely free from imperfectiou in its growth, and that consemiently, trees found, on being cut down, to have any flaw or discrepancy, are rejected and lei't to rot upon the ground ; such trees, nevertheless, being all more or less suitable for ordinary lumber, and some of them even for the first-clase quality. In this way, millions upon millions of feet of luniber are absolutely wasted, while the renuiin- der is carried out of the country for the benefit of those with whom it has no con- «4 cern.' VI.— THE FISHERIES. The summary table of exports which I have given on page 15 will- enable you to form some idea of the extent and value of the fisherieH of the Island, as prosecuted by the British p'-»pulation, in 1874 and 1S75. In 1876, the catch of seals numbered from :i30,000 to 350,000. It must be remarked that the figures in the table are understood not to include the full results (but estimates) of operations on the " French shore." It is conjectured that, if the information necessary to perfect the returns from that region could be obtained, the totals for, at least, dried cod and herrings, would be immensely increased, if not doubled. The pre- tensions of the French fishermen have gradually developed, upon some occult principle of evolution, from the exercise of concurrent fishing privileges, into almost an absolute and exclusive sovereignty. It must be cause for gratification, however, to know that Governor Glover was recently reported to have said, that " he believed that in a very short time, {ill diflBculty with regard to the exercise of our territorial and soveraign rights on the so-called French shore, would be removed." So far as obtainable figures go, the products of the Cod and Herrin'^' fisheries exported during two years, were : — 1874. 1875. • Dried Codfish, Qtls. Pickled Herrings, Bfls. Dried Codfish, Qtls. Pickle Herri nj. , Brls. From official returns of Newfound- land Trade 1,574,149 20,575 87,206 750 6,000 1,000 50,000 20,000 25,000 1,110,735 11,000 101,989 8,65'. The following are estimates : — Labrador Houses not connected with Newfoundland Traders on Labrador Coast French Shore, viz. : Partridge Head to Anchor Point 3,000 3,000 4,000 6,000 2,500 3,000 4,000 5,000 2,000 40,000 15 'too Bonne Bav Bay of Islai St. George' b liay. Cod Roy 25,000 1,609,724 189,956 1,136,235 192,6^** ii But not only are the coast fisheries intruded upon to the detriment of Britisi and Colonial industry and enterprise, — the inland fisheries are also being destroyed. Mr. Murray says : — " Let me add a few words upon the wholesale destruction of salmon and trout ■which is perpetrated on every river and brook in the island, but more particularly upon those parts of the coast termed the French shore. Barring up the streams, building weirs, sweeping the pools with seine nets, and night spearing, are prac- tised everywhere ; but such practises are, at all events, illegal within the acknow- ledged British jurisdiction, whereas, if I urn rightly informed, thev are actually legalized and encouraged by the French authorities. One thing, at all events, I can testify to, which is that, in 1864, while I was in Croque Harbor, I saw the crews of two French Men-of-War engaged in sweeping the mouths of the brooks which empty into that harbor, with long seines, for salmon, the same brooks, moreover, being closely barred from shore to shore. In the same year, at the entrance to one of the brooKL of Canada Bay, I witnessed a bar net, said to have been set by one Canning, a settler, which contained, entangled within its meshes, something like eighty salmon, the larger proportion of which were in a high state of decomposition. Wliat the result of all this indiscriminate slaughter will be eventually is not difficult to prophesy." It may be remarked here that not only are the products of the New- foundland sea-fisheries multitudinous, — they are in some instances of gigantic size. I confess to having been one of the many who imagined that Victor Hugo's account of the Devil-fish, or Sea Vam pyre, was either a creation of the novelist, or a romancing description of a largely magni- fied squid. But the Eev. Mr. Harvjcy, of St. John's, showed me a photo- graph of a Cuttle-fish, (much larger than the one referred to in Hugo's " Toilers of the Sea") which was caught about three years ago in Logie Bay, a short distance from St. John's. He also possesses a photograph of one of the tentacles of another of these monsters that was encountered in Conception Bay, it having attacked a boat, in which were two fish'^r- men, placing them in great jeopardy. The pnrt of the limb severed from the animal was 25 feet long, about 10 feet remaining, and the body was conjectured to be more than 72 feet from tip to tip of the two largest extended arms. About six feet of the severed tentacle was destroyed before arrangements were ir^-ie for securing it; and the remainder (19 feet) is preserved in the Teological Museum, it having been shown to me by Mr. Murray. A day or two before leaving St. John's, the Rev. Mr. Harvey was enabled to place among his specimens a double-claw of an enormous lobster, which a fisherman sent to him. 1 may be permitted to express the opinion here, that the people and Government of Newfoundland are under great obligation to Rev. Mr. Harvey for the services he has rendered by his pen, in communica- tions to the " Press, " conveying v:iluable information to the Britieli and American public respecting the resources of the Island. Vn .-MINERALS. All I can do at present, under this h^ad, is simply to mention one or two prominent features in the mineralogy of Newfoundland, mentioned to me by Mr. Murray. Sov \e ten or twelve yeai*8 ago he predicated the existence of nickelifercus ores on the island, upon investigations raadf^ in Canada by Dr. Storry HuT^t ; and the result is, that although they have only been discovered in workable quantities at Tilt Cove, they have been traced elsewhere. A considerable quantity of nickel ore has been taken out by the miners at that place, some of which yielded about 24 per cent, to the ton of ore, and the price realized was £141 per ton. Ores of copper are prevalent in many localities ; in addition to previous work- ings, a very rich one was discovered during the past summer (1876.) Magnetic and specular iron, and lead and sulphur ores are abundant, — there being also traces of the precious metals. There is no question as to the presence of coal. Mr. Murray has reported that the carboniferous measures which spread so extensively throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, are undoubtedly pi'olonged under the waters of the Gulf, and are distinctly recognizauio in the western part of the island ; but that t^peciai investigation as to workable seams must be made. Mr. Murray also permitted me to examine a proof-sheet of a most valuable geological map of Newfoundland which he is preparing, and which will soon be published. Ylir.— TRADE AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. You will find four Tables at the end of this communication, show- ing (1) quantities and values in detail of imports into Newfoundland for the two calendar yeave 1874 and 1875 ; (2) quantities and v^aiues in detail of the exports during the same years ; (3) the values of the import and export trade with various countries ; and (4) statei/ient of i -anti" ties of some of the articles particularized in Table No. TI., shipped from t! port of St. John's by individual firms in that City. It has appeared desirable to give here some extracts from the Cus- toms Tariff, for the benefit of any who may be unacquainted with the duties levied on merchandize impoited. Extracts from Newfoundland Tariff. Aj^^kaltural implement and machin- ery, Imported by Agrloultural Socl- etieH for the promotion of agricul- ture Free. Apples, per barrc*. 30 ots. Buoon hams, toni;ues, smoked beef and sauHagee, per owt S2.<'X). Bark, for tanning leatlier , Free. Butter, per owt $1.12. Candles 20 per c Cliepae, per cwt $1.60. Coal, imported or brought into the port of St John's, per ton Scents. Cocl (when not imported or brought Into the port of St. John's) Free. t. Coke. Free. 9 Confectionery, per cwt $3.50. EgR8 ¥i9e. Empty oaslcM of all kinds, not con- taining mercliandize — including flsh boxes and returned casks 20 per cent Fi»ap Cwts Tobacco, manufac'd. Lbs. From Canada. 1875. 1874. 679 2,026 6,030 6,088 2,180 2,510 468 126 1,148 1,864 94,173 94,217 346 406 17,430 a),786 U3.936 74,339 1,281 1,069 4,128 3,219 398,000 223,500 6,042 5,637 ,'^4 443 167,406 199,007 From Nova SooUa. 1875. 1,226 6,01 70 155 48,318 506 1,703 1.517 16,148 73,117 11 2 4,137,500 673 96 65,103 1874. 2,179 5,666 ■"ssi 43,358 52!t 5,383 4,317 13.168 63,495 151 203 'J,738,0(M) 626 886 76, 104 From United States. 1875. 712 543 30,980 304 588 5,502 188,261 62,837 34,662 1,100 97 74,000 21,669 2,203 149,590 1874. 1,616 1,852 31,280 74 278 2,849 179,252 87,445 47,892 231 10 7,000 23.4'l9 3,106 366,072 A few of the articles mentioned in the foregoing comparative sum- mary of imports doeorve special notice : — Butter. — The total quantities imported annually, taking the average of the two years for which the figures are given, amounted to 15,417 cwts. ; of whfcli Canada supplied 5,559 cwts., or .^6 per cent. ; Nova Scotia, 5,344 cwts., or 34*tO per cent; and the United Steves, 1,198 cwts., c 777 per cent. 10 Flour. — Average quantity imported annually, 258,068 barrels ; of which Canada supplied 94,195 barrels, or 36*50 per cent. ; Nova Scotia, 3.536 barrels, or l-cJ? per cent.; and the United States, 158,757 barrels, or 61-55 per cent. "| Leather. — Average value of the quantities imported annually, $78,794; of which Canada supplied $19,083, or 24-22 per cent.; Nova Scotia, $14,658, or 18-60 per cent.; and the United States, $41,222, or 52-32 per cent. Leoiher- Ware. — Average value of the quantities imported annually, $311,909; of which Canada supplied, $84,138, or 26-97 per cent.; Nova Scotia, $68,306 or 21-90 per cent. ; and the United States, $666, or 0-21 per cent. Lumber. — Average quantity of plank and boards imported annually, 4,195,250 feet; of which Canada supplied 310,750 feet, or 7-41 per cent. ; Nova Scotia, 3,237,750 feet, or 77-18 per cent. ; and the United States, 40,500 feet, or 0-96 per cent. Petroleum. — Average quantity imported annually, 78,806 gallons ; of which Canada supplied 376 gallons, or 0-48 per cent.; Nova Scotia, 2,917 gallons, or 3-75 per cent. ; and the United SU.,tes, 74,641 gallons, or 94-71 per cent. Pork. — Average quantity imported annually, 29,334 barrels ; of which Canada supplied 5,840 barrels, or 19-87 per cent. ; Nova Scotia, 650 brls., or 2-21 per cent. ; and the United States, 22,489 barrels, or 76-67 percent. I cannot resist making a special remark regarding the importation of lumber into Newfoundland. By referring to page 5 you will find an extract from an official source, which shows that organized depreda- tions are constantly being made upon the government timber-lands, and that one squatter mill company is under engagement to supply parties in Nova Scotia with millions of feet of sawn lumber annually for a period of years. The foregoing analysis indicates that the average quantity imported from Nova Scotia is 3,237,750 feet per annum : Query ? — How much of that quantity is got in Newfoundland at the bare cost of manu- facture, and sent back (possibly even without breaking bulk in a Nova Scotian port) to the Colony at good round prices, the consumers paying a duty of $1.00 per M. feet upon the produce of their own public lands ? Perhaps a correct answer may be, " Nona." The circumstances of the case, however, — and especially the alleged contract of thnt mill company to supply 3,000,000 feet for seven years, — not unnaturall}' prompt the question. An examination of Table III, will show that the average annual volume of the trade of Newfoundland for 1874 and 1875 amounted in value to $14,090,552. The average value with the United States was 11 02,076,419, or 14-74 per cent.; the average with Canada being $1,241,017, or 8'8l per cent. Adding together the Provinces in the Dominion, how- ever, the average is $2,445,563, or 17'36 percent, — which shows that the average annual value of the existing commerce between Newfoundland and the Dominion, is greater than between that colony and the United States. It has often been questioned, whether Canadian merchants mignt not strengthen and enlarge their trade-relations with their fellow colonists. Taking the circumstances of the population into account, and the fact that several of the leading business firms have strong interests in Great Britain, it must be pretty evident that the process would be a somewhat slow one. The practical and substantial way to answer such an inquiry, is for our merchants and business men to make themselves better acquainted with Newfourdland and its people; and I am endeavoring in this letter to afford a glimpse at the country and its productions, — its more evident as well as its, for the present, hiddea wealth. The Export Trade. — Besides Table No. II, -vhich shows the quan- tities and values of Exports, I have been kindly furnished with copies of separate ojficial returns of certain products of the fisheries, exported during two years, from which Table lY. has been compiled, — in which are given in detail the comparative shipments of the principal firms in the city of St. John's. I have given on p. 6 a summary comparison of exports of codfish and herrings, — and there is only space here for the fol- lowing particulars as to the ports from each of which 10,000 quintals, or over, of dried codfish were shipped in recent years : — St. John's ,., Twillingate , , Fogo Oreenspond r . . . t Gatalinu Trinity , Harbor Grace Burin , Harbor Briton Gauitois , Burgao , La Poile Rose Blanche Channel Labrador, Newfoundland houses 1874. 868,464 4^,112 26,885 26,982 25,867 14,710 83,874 19,M71 12,389 16,267 20,769 16.886 17,377 10,165 325,932 1875. 647,580 18,818 12,472 11,760 16,343 58,399 13,246 13,278 14,290 10,610 244,701 A large export trade is done to Brazil, that Empire being spoken of as one of Newfoundland's best customers, — the relation of exports to that region of South Amoricp Cthere are no recorded imports) being on the average of the two years as 1^1,349,938 to $6,884,021, or 19-61 per cent. 12 There is a Brazilian Consular Agent or Vice-Consul, at the Port of St John's. Communication between the Dominion and the Island, — Heretofore communication between Newfoundland and ports in the Dominion has been mainly by sailing-vessels (schooners), w^hich came laden with fish, oil &c., the return cargo being Canadian produce, such as flour, pork, butter, &c., — merchants on the Island being owners of the craft in whole or in part. For a year or two past there has been a Canadian mail-service via Halifax, one of the Allan Line Steamships coming and going in alternate weeks. A U. S. line of steamers also ^fiords service between St. John's and Halifax, sometimes calling at Sydney, I believe. Steam communication with Montreal and Quebec has, until the present year, been irregular; but during part of last summer and throughout the Fall months, the steamers of the Montreal and Acadian Line have plied regularly between Montreal and St. John's. While the patronage given to that company, has, frr sundry reasons, not been all that might have been desired, dtill, I imagine, the business was moderately profitable ; and it is to be hoped that the experience afforded by the en- terprise of the owners of the line, will induce an increase of steam ton- nage for that trade. At the annual Commercial Dinner of the St. John's Merchants, in August last, a favorable opportunity was aff'orded me to draw the attention of the gentlemen present to the great advantages which would accrue from regular and frequent intercourse between the people of Newfoundland and the people of the Dominion. IX.-MANUFACTURE8. Besides the various industries throughout the island, growing out of the fisheries, there are several large bread and biscuit bakeries in St. John's. A flour mill was in process of erection when I was there ; and it has probably been in operation since then, — wheat for the Company engaged in the enterprise having been shipped from Montreal during the past Fall. There is also a boot and shoe factory in operation, in which llO persons are employed; the engine, boilers and machinery were imported from St. John, N.B. ; fine goods are manufactured, as well as a coarser and stronger class. The manager of the enterprise told me the prospect for success was good, although it had not been a year in operation, and that he had orders on hand which would fully occupy him for several months. X.- DEVELOPMENT. A friend in St. John's wrote to me, recently, as follows : — " Our min- " eral resources are likely to turn out immense, and our fisheries admit 18 " of indefinite expansion, while our agricultural and forest lands are " untouched. Betts' Cove Mine exports this year 20,000 tons of ore " valued at £200,000 ($800,000)— of which at least £120,000 ($480,000) ** will be clear gain I Can you beat that in Canada ?" Some of the most observant and enterprising of the merchants in that city declare their confident belief that Newfoundland ^is destined, ere many years elapse, to become the Australia op Nop-th America! Well, that means at the very outset, an eifectual settlement of the " French shore" question ; — next, it implies development of mines and forests; — the conservation of the vast fisheries, correlatively with their economical expansion, and the development of agricultural resources ; — and then all these will call foi the introduction of thousands upon thousands of thrifty immigrants, who will industriously utilize all these resources, and create an internal commerce as well as enlarge the foreign trade. Incident to all this, an extension of the telegraph system would be imperative, not only to con- nect St. John's with the mining regions to the northward, but also through the heart of the country (along the railway route /) to St. George's Bay — there to put the fishing and shipping interests in instant communication with the proposed new system of telegraphic communication throughout the Gulf of St. Lawrence. And what would be the results of that developn^ent and enterprise? One of them, I suppose, would probably be, ere long, a change in the administrative functions of the Government. That would, indeed, soon be a necessity; for the increased responsibility devolving upon the Cabinet would be sure to call for a separation of the general from the merely municipal functions ; placing the duty and responsibility of the latter upon the inhabitants themselves ; and, of course, relieve the Government of all pui-ely local expenditure. Such an alteration would make possible a revision and modification of the Customs Tariff, facilitat- ing and undoubtedly increasing trade relations with other countries ; and, may 1 venture to add, tending to strengthen and increase commercial fraternity between the merchants of Newfoundland and Canada. Whether, »s the ultimate outcome of these forecastings, a closer union with the Dominion might be anticipated, I will leave others to speculate. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, WM. J. PATTEESON, Secretary. 14 TABLE No. I. A Statement in detail of Quantities and Yaluos of Merchandise imported into Newfoundland during the years 1875 and 1874: — ARTICLES. Animals :— Oxen and Cows No. HorBes, Mares, &o " Pigs and Calves " Ale, Porter, Cider and Perry Gals. Apples Brls. Bacon, Hams, Tongues, Smoked Beef and Sausages Cwts. Beef and Pigs' Heads. Feet and Hocks, (salted and cured) Brls. Biscuit Cwts. Butter " Cheese " Chocolate and Cocoa Lbs. Cigars iJ. Cofl'ee Lbs, Confectionary Cwts. Feathers and Feather Beds Lbs. Fish— salted, dried and piclked — Cwts. Flour Brls. Fruit— dried Lbs. " other descriptions except Ap- ples Value Lumber Feet. Molasses Gals. Meat and Poultry Value Oatmeal Brls. Indian Meal and Peas " Pork " Salt Tons. Shingles M Shouks and Staves, Manu&ctured and dressed Value Spirits, viz. :— Brandy Gals. And undeiiued Spirits. ... " Whiskey " Cordials " Kum " Gin « Sugar, viz. :— Heflned Cwts. Unrettiied *' Bastard " Tea, viz. :— So<.:chong, Congou and Bohea Lbs. All other sorts " Timber Tons. Tobacco— Manutactared Lbs . Leaf. " Stems Cwts. Vinegar Gals Wines, viz. : — Champagne..... " Port, Maderia " Sherry and Manzauilla " Claret " Spanish Bed, Denia, Sicilian, Figueiralied, Lisbon common, Mal- aga and Cape " lio<}k and Light Rhen- ish Wines " All other Wines. ... " Sweet or Fancy Biscuits and Crackers, 18 per cent Goods, Wares and Merchandise, enum- erated to pay duty at the rate of 8 p.c. at20p.o Goods not otherwise enumerated or de- scribed, 13 p.« 1875. Quantity. 2,068 168 118 49,782 2,661 961i 4.089 27,890 14.656J I.IOU 43,364 376i 113,941 496 Value. Dols. cts. $90,481 80 4,960 00 1874. 33,757 1,447) 236,073 266,682 4,9!W"566 1,014,263 ■ 1,457 11,496 28,686 41.011 6,706 4,481 60 20,208 '26 • • • • • • ' 7,625 13,967 50 220 7,897 1,756 87,068 11,080 l,364i 14,164,1 638^ 641,666 694 447,222 76 5,973 348 2,071 2,063 829 S,83i'92 3,396 34 '79'66 8,809 16 625,873 00 41,981 20 2,112,027 62 Totftlt «2,821,12100 Quantity. 160 • 145 80,367 6,728 l,368i 6,894 17,271 16,176 3 18 1,000 47,579 309 123,846 627 61,120 11 280 063 329,393 3,464,000 868,739 1,416 8,268 29,982 48,245 6,003 8,878 178 8,312 2,226. 104,638 13.991 1,618 ■, 13,127 i &23| 677,394 23' 684 524,623 162 119i 5,378 £17 6,948 2,607 6,224 :,<}42 181 148 Value. Dols. cts. $109,009 00 4.498 00 3,877 00 19,829' 00 3,961 00 402 00 667,213 63 89,829 45 2,146,090 00 N N P S P( Iti Si G lo U 2,886,700 OT 15 TABLE No. n. A Statement of the Quaniiiies and Values of the Exports from Newfoundland, during the years 1875 and 1874, ABTICLES. Cod Fish, Dried Qtls. Core Fish " Fish Green " Seal Skins No. Seal Oil Tuns Whale Oil " Cod Oil " Refined Cod Oil " Other Oils " Blubber " Salmon Tierces Herrings pickled Barrels flerings Frozen fresh " Trout « Mackarel " Cod Roes " Haddock Qtls Hallibut " Turbot Brls, Salmon preserved in tins Lbs Lobsters " Copper Ore Tons Nickel Ore " Lead Ore " Sounds and Tongues Par-kages. Other articles not enumerated Bait &c. sold to French 1875. Quantity. 1,136,235 730 346,924 4,971 37 2,990 89 25 92 8,101 192,639 14,460 1,468 221 144 330 Value. £1,363,482 365 112,750 164,043 1,184 126,580 6,835 800 368 00 00 60 00 00 00 40 00 00 28,353 10 M4,479 50 10 2,187 3,612 50,120 144,723 11,118 17 95 164 165 15 144 165 1,670 13 4 16 00 00 00 3,618 66,708 1,190 950 41 25,000 £2,053,692 4 10 or, $8214768.98 1874. Quantity. 1,609,721 904 398,366 4,358 62 2,939 222 26 81 7,883 189,956 8,300 2,234 47 1,186 18 1,449 13 36,662 26,814 4,346 Value. • 1,520,237 16 339 , :),468 19 li 2,530 2,170 117,660 12,787 832 324 29,561 142,467 2,075 00 00 40 0' 00 00 00 00 00 00 130 276 4,468 94 889 10 15 15 724 10 13 00 1,218 14 8 645 7 26,076 1,950 69 15,000 00 00 00 £2,170,516 8 or, $8682064.13 TABLE No. Ill A Statement showing the aggregate Values of Imports into, and Exports from, New- V foundland, during the years 1875 and 1874 : — COUNTRIES. United Kingdom Jersey Canada Nova Scotia New Brunswick Prince Edward Island. British West Indies Hamburg Malta France Spain Portugal Italy Sicily Cumberland Inlet Gibraltar Ionian Isles United States Foreign West Indies.. Brazil St. Peter's i875. Imports. Total Value. $2,520,966 48,900 1,122,241 770,159 337,116 91,133 300,309 159,095 65,127 45,070 189 8,698 240 1,598,006 271,614 19^519 Exports. Tota' Value. $2,091,062 38,595 93,932 92,567 414 5,378 357,089 60,666 673,311 937,822 216,063 34,695 115,925 'i'97,2tf9 189,266 1,326,496 2.474 1874. Iniports. Total Value. $2,628,743 32,651 1,057,525 780,461 12,530 87,867 246,529 159,293 75,546 64,360 450 17,949 50 $7,068,372 I $6,432,003 1,941,011 230,129 "l9,i595 Exports, Total Value. $1,811,053 15,323 208,336 225,822 2,2:^1 3,414 393,179 22,121 2,571 1,139,911 1,120,486 268,704 121,464 3,202 116,306 22,722 316,652 160,861 l,374,3d0 7,401 $7,354,689 I $7,336,039 16 "I o o E. 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