Statement showing the exports from Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, for the year ending December 31, 1881. Statement showing the navigation at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, for the year ending Statement showing the imports at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, for the year ending De Statement showing the imports at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, &c.—Continued. Statement showing the exports from Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, for the year ending December 31, 1882. Statement showing the navigation at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, for the year ending December 31, 1882. Two steamers remained in port to serve as local or intercolonial traders. Statement showing the navigation at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, &c.—Continued. Four sailing vessels (merchant ships) remained in port at close of year. WEST INDIES. BRITISH WEST INDIES. ANTIGUA. Report by Consul Jackson on the trade and commerce of Antigua for the year 1883. EXPORTS. The year 1883, for Antigua, proved dry, reducing the output of sugar from the preceding year by 2,000 tons or more. Lower prices prevailed through competition with beet-root sugar, everything tending to reduce the value of Antigua's principal export-sugar muscovado. The decrease in exports is here shown: Exports at Antigua, year 1882.. Decrease.. $1,300, 059 14 1,068,846 87 231, 212 27 By reference to the table of exports appended it will be seen that, with the exception of molasses, but little is noteworthy in exports from Antigua. IMPORTS. In imports a small increase is noted, quite in variance with the general experience, for a decrease of exports means a decrease of imports, or vice versa. A larger amount of sugar machinery was imported, also an increase in hardware. The difference referred to is as follows: Imports at Antigua, year 1882. Imports at Antigua, year 1883. Increase $862, 644 20 885, 777 66 23, 133 46 TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES. While the quantities of most articles imported from the United States show a considerable increase, the official value has been lowered so that the value is less for the past year than for the year preceding. I am glad to note that the feeling for increased commercial relations with the United States grows stronger day by day, and when the amount of prejudice that has been removed in the past five years is considered, the change wrought is quite phenominal. NAVIGATION. In sympathy with other West India ports in these parts, the naviga tion of Antigua shows further partiality for steam vessels. Comparing the movement of such vessels with the year 1882, I find that the entries for that year amounted to 101, with a registered tonnage of 98,644 tons, while in 1883 the number had increased to 153, with a registered tonnage of 155,219 tons. In 1882, sailing vessels to the number of 432, registering 28,411 tons, made entry; last year the number had decreased to 398 with tonnage amounting to 26,207. Strange to say, although the number of steam vessels shows such an increase, the number of large sailing craft reinains about the same, the difference lying in the decrease of small craft plying between the islands. The number of arrivals of American vessels amounted to 25 with a tonnage of 5,924, a decrease of one sail from the preceding year only. SOIL AND ITS CULTIVATION. Our soil, with little exception, is a stiff clay of the most perverse description that holds the water in the wet season, while in the dry it bakes and cracks beyond anything I have ever witnessed in the United States, rendering cultivation in both cases extremely unsatisfactory. I have never seen a plow scour satisfactorily, and the necessity for such action seems to be but little considered; while the soil, in part, is in fault, most miserable care is given to plows in this respect. At best the preparation of the soil for crops is poor, the pulverizing process after plowing being left to the action of the elements. MINES. The island of Redonda situated in a southwesterly direction from Antigua, distant 20 miles, containing about 700 acres, and a dependency of Antigua, is considered quite rich in phosphates, and at the present writing is being successfully worked by an English company; other than this, there is but little indication of minerals in paying quantities in this immediate vicinity. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, CHESTER E. JACKSON, United States Consul. Antigua, June 3, 1884. Statement showing the imports at Antigua for the year ending December 31, 1883. 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