Quantity.

and that the best customers for the fish products, next to the United Kingdom, are Brazil, Portugal, Spain, British West Indies, Canada, and the United States. Of the whole volume of trade, about 17 per cent. is with Canada, and about 15 per cent. with the United States.

The following comparative statement will be found. interesting as showing the trade of the colony forty years ago, and affording data for comparing that period with the present, in regard to the revenue imports and exports:

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE QUANTITY AND VALUE OF THE STAPLE ARTICLES OF PRODUCE EXPORTED IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS:

936,202

3,111,312

651,370

4,058

9,649

Value.

VALUE OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS:

£769,628 £770,190 £867,316 £943,191 £795,758 887,581 876,567 975,770 959,751 965,772

SHIPPING.

On December 31st, 1881, the registered tonnage of the colony was 1,895 vessels, having a tonnage of 89,655 tons. Of these, 1,866 were sailing vessels, and 29 were steamers. In addition, 60 vessels were engaged in the foreign carrying trade, which, though owned in Newfoundland, were registered in Britain.

The following Table shows the increase in the tonnage since 1859:

The number of vessels entered at the various ports in 1881 was 1,366; their tonnage, 158,345; their crews, 7,991.

The number of vessels cleared at the various ports in 1881 was 1,018; their tonnage, 132,743; their crews, 6,630. The number of steamers entered in 1881 was 190; their tonnage, 162,285; their crews, 7,338.

The number of steamers cleared at the various ports in 1881 was 181; their tonnage, 160,268; their crews, 7,183.

The number of vessels built in the colony in 1881 was 76; their tonnage, 3,361. The bounty paid on them was $10,013. Twenty-seven vessels were built on which no bounty was paid: their tonnage was 582.

CHAPTER II.

GOVERNMENT.

The constitution-Executive and public officers - The electoral districts- Salaries of officials - The judicial department

Constitution and character of the law courts.

IN 1832 the boon of a representative government and a constitution was granted to Newfoundland. The island was divided into nine electoral districts, each of which was to have one or more representatives, according to its population, the whole number of members to be fifteen. The right of voting was conferred on every man who for one year immediately preceding the day of election had occupied a dwelling-house within the island, either as owner or tenant. A legislative and executive council, composed of seven persons, appointed by the Crown, was also created. The system did not work well, and in 1842 the constitution was suspended, and the council abolished as a distinct branch of the Legislature, and its members were authorised to sit and vote in the House of Assembly, on the same footing as if they were elected members. This was known as "The Amalgamated Legislature." At length, in compliance with the strongly-expressed desire of the people, Responsible Government" was conceded to the colony in 1855. This was simply the application of the principles of the British constitution to the government of the colony.

It provided that the country "should be governed according to the well-understood wishes of the people." The party who were sustained by a majority in the Legislature had at their disposal the appointment to the principal offices in the colony. By them, too, the Executive Council was selected. Two legislative Chambers were appointed. The House of Assembly, to be elected, the Legislative Council to be nominated by "The Governor in Council."

This form of government, which has worked satisfactorily, is that by which the affairs of the colony are at present regulated. It consists of a Governor, who is appointed by the Crown, and whose term of office is usually about six years; an Executive Council, chosen by the party commanding a majority in the Legislature, and consisting of seven members; a Legislative Council, or Upper House, of fifteen members, nominated by the Governor in Council, and holding office for life; and a House of Assembly of thirty-one members, elected every four years by the votes of the people. The chief public officers of the Government, selected from the party who command a majority in the Legislature, are the Colonial Secretary, who is also Secretary of the Executive Council, the AttorneyGeneral, the Receiver-General, the Solicitor-General, the Surveyor-General, Financial Secretary, Chairman of the Board of Works, and Auditor of Public Accounts.

There are fifteen electoral districts, sending 31 members, divided as follows:

The qualification of persons to be elected to serve as members of the House of Assembly is a net annual income, arising from any source whatever, of $480, or the possession of property, clear of all incumbrances, exceeding $2,400. They must have resided in the island for two years previous to each election, be over twenty-one years of age, and be British subjects or lawfully naturalised.

The members of the House of Assembly are elected by a household suffrage. All persons who, either as owners or tenants, have occupied a dwelling-house for two years next before the day of election, are entitled to vote.

In addition to the electoral districts enumerated already, there will be two others on the western coast, each entitled to elect a representative at the next general elections, in November, 1882. The Act enfranchising the so-called "French Shore," has received at length the royal assent; thus the next House of Assembly will consist of thirty-three members.

The members of both branches of the Legislature are paid. Members of the House of Assembly, if resident in St. John's, receive $194 per session; if resident elsewhere, $291 per session. The members of the Legislative Council receive $120 per session; the president, $240. The Speaker of the House of Assembly receives $1,000 per session.

The Legislature is usually summoned to meet "for the