Statement showing the navigation entered from and cleared for the United States at Guadeloupe for the year ending December 31, 1882. I have been unable as yet to obtain a statement of navigation for Guadeloupe only approximately, excepting those entered from and cleared for the United States, of which I keep myself a record. Besides the above, there have been about 375 sailing vessels entered and cleared at Guadeloupe for other countries than the United States with an ag gregate tonnage of about 70,500 tons; besides the French Transatlantic Steamship Company has a steamer calling here direct from France bound to Martinique and French Guiana twice a month, on the 2d and 20th of each month, and return from French Guiana and Martinique, bound direct to France, twice each month, on the 6th and 22d. And, likewise, the English Royal Mail Steamship Company has a steamer calling at Basse-Terre twice a month from St. Thomas and the Leeward Islands, bound to Windward the 17th and 27th of each month, and on returning from the Windward bound to St. Thomas and the Leeward Islands on the 1st and 12th of each month, leaving and taking mail and passengers. Statement showing the imports between the French colony of Guadeloupe and the United States for the year 1883. Statement showing the imports between the French colony of Guadeloupe and the United States for the year 1883-Continued. TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES. Statement showing the exports between the French colony of Guadeloupe and the United States for the year 1883. Total, 21,726 hogsheads, 1 tierce, 3,348 barrels, 12,476 bags..kilograms. 15, 786, 963 Cocoa, 15 barrels. Coffee, 5 kegs. 1,322, 372 82 211 97 96 92 Copper (old),1 package Lead (old), 1 package... Lime juice, 3 casks (135 gallons) Tamarinds, 57 packages. Yellow metal (old), 1 package. Zinc (old), 5 packages.. Total 1, 021 266 59 9 50 Statement showing the exports between the French colony of Guadeloupe and the United SPANISH WEST IN DIES. CUBA. BARACOA. Report by Commercial Agent Coon on the commerce and trade of Baracoa for the year 1883. In compliance with paragraphs 555 and 556 of Consular Regulations, I herewith transmit statements and statistics of trade and navigation in this consular district during the fiscal year ended June 30, as follows: NAVIGATION. This statement indicates for itself a prosperous condition in this district. The municipality of Baracoa is too limited in resources, and with a population of scarcely 5,000, that of the province being not more than 20,000, accompanied by an entire deficiency of inland communication, does not admit of a hope of becoming a great commercial port. Nothing short of the organization of a strong mercantile company for the reception and distribution of merchandise throughout other portions of the island will raise Baracoa to that commercial importance which it might acquire. If the waste tonnage of vessels arriving here in ballast could be utilized into practical direct trade, Baracoa would at once assume some commercial importance. The principal supplies now, however, are drawn from Havana and St. Jago. The greatest number of steamers that appear in the statement, as touching at this port, belong to the coasting fleet (all Spanish), which make regular trips between Havana, St. Jago, and Porto Rico, there being no sail vessels employed in this naviga tion. Transient ships come exclusively from the United States, and are nearly all American. Our trade has received a remarkable increase the past year, not only in number of the vessels, but also in increase of tonnage and quality. In the fiscal years ended the 30th of June of 1882 and 1883, the vessels clearing at this consular office were as follows: 1882, number of steamers, 6; number of sail, 223, aggregating a burden of 27,295 tons; and in 1883, number of steamers, 13; number of sail, 241, aggregating 41,587 tons; which shows an increase of 7 steamers, 22 sail vessels, and an increase of 14,292 tons. STATEMENT OF IMPORTS. Although this commercial agency has made its best endeavors to obtain the most accurate figures and notes concerning importations, yet I do not consider them entirely reliable. As no other report of this character has been made here, in a complete form, at any previous time, no comparison will be attempted under this head; but I will add that there is a healthy condition manifest in this city and country. STATEMENT OF EXPORTS. The statement of exports shows a very handsome increase. During the past five years there has been a gradual increase of production, but the fiscal year ended June 30 past presents a far greater increase than any former year. The principal articles of export being cocoanuts, bananas, and cocoanut oil, the following statement will indicate the balance of trade: Exports of fiscal years ended June 30, 1881, 1882, and 1883. Which shows that the increase obtained this year is more than 43 per cent. upon the year 1882, and more than 130 per cent. on the year previous, for the cocoanut; and of 30 per cent. and 102 per cent., respectively, for bananas, being the increase of total value of this trade of 42 and 188 per cent. for said years 1882 and 1881. The increase of production, however, in the past crop has not been equal to the increase of acreage planted, on account of a long and protracted drought, which has considerably reduced the harvest of bananas. Should the coming fiscal year give the necessary rains for the plantations, a much larger business may be looked for in 1884 than has been in 1883. The amount of production of cocoanut oil does not show much change. A statement of production and export of this article for the past year accompanies this report. It should be observed that for many preceding years a large share of the cocoanut oil, manufactured at this port has found a market in the United States; but for more than eighteen months past the markets of this island, Porto Rico, and Spain have diverted this production from our markets. Oranges, pineapples, shaddocks, and other fruits, which formerly were. exported, have no importance now; but with the increase of steam navigation I am quite sure they will regain their former position in our markets. The transportation of these fruits by sail vessels has proven unprofitable, owing to the long voyages often made. UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL AGENCY, DATUS E. COON, Baracoa, July 20, 1883. Statement showing the exports from Baracao for the year ending June 30, 1883. |