ERRATA.

Page 256.-Hans: Boston and Charlestown, Mass., instead of "$819,873," should be "$819,373."

Page 288.-Champlain: Heading of second column, instead of "Quantities," should be "Dollars."

Page 320.-"No. 13.-Imports of foreign merchandise, &c." should read "No. 13.Exports of foreign merchandise, &c."

Page 544.-In left-hand column, "Articles," insert "Shawls" immediately below "Total shirts, &c.," and preceding "woolen."

Page 572.-Total value diamonds, &c., for 1881, instead of "$3,330,071.45," should be "$8,330,071.45."

Χ

REPORT

OF

THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS

ON THE

FOREIGN COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

Bureau of Statistics, Washington, D. C., December 30, 1882.

SIR: I have the honor to submit to you the following report in regard to the foreign commerce of the United States during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1882.

The total value of imports and exports of merchandise and specie amounted to $1,567,071,700, as against $1,675,024,318 during the preceding fiscal year, showing a falling off of $107,952,618.

The value of the exports and imports of merchandise and of coin and bullion during the last fiscal year is exhibited as follows:

The following table exhibits the value of merchandise imported into, and of merchandise exported from, the United States, during each year

from 1860 to 1882, inclusive; also the annual excess of the value of imports or of exports, expressed throughout in specie values:

Value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United States from 1860 to 1882, inclusive; also annual excess of imports or of exports. (Specie values.)

It will be observed that the excess of the value of exports over that of imports of merchandise during the last fiscal year was much less than during any one of the six preceding years. This was due to the falling off in the quantity of exports, and to the increased value of imports.

MERCHANDISE.

The value of the exports of merchandise during the last fiscal year amounted to $750,542,257, as against $902,377,346 during the preceding year, showing a falling off of $151,835,089.

The value of the imports of merchandise amounted to $724,639,574, as against $642,664,628 during the preceding year, showing an increase of $81,974,946.

GOLD AND SILVER COIN AND BULLION.

The following table exhibits the value of gold and silver coin and bullion imported into and exported from the United States during each year from 1860 to 1882, inclusive; also the annual excess of imports or

Value of gold and silver coin and bullion imported into and exported from the United States from 1860 to 1882, inclusive; also the annual excess of imports or of exports.

The importation of gold and silver coin and bullion during the last

The exportation of gold and silver coin and bullion during the last

The large decrease in the value of the exports of domestic merchandise during the last fiscal year, amounting to $150,686,215, was due almost entirely to the falling off in the exports of cotton and of breadstuffs and provisions-a result attributable to the drought and other unfavorable meteorological influences which prevailed during the crop season of 1881. The decreased production of cotton and of the cereals, during the crop season of 1881, as compared with such production during the crop season of 1880, is shown in the following table, compiled from data furnished to this office by the Department of Agriculture: Comparative statement showing the relative magnitude of the crops of cotton, wheat, corn, rye, oats, and barley in the United States during the seasons of 1880 and 1881, respectively.

The decreased value of the exports of cattle, provisions, breadstuffs, and cotton during the last fiscal year, as compared with the value of the exports of the same during the preceding fiscal year, is exhibited as follows: