EXPORTS OF WOOL FROM AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, 1892-Continued.

In Austria-Hungary the tariff law in force in 1837 imposed a duty of 30 kreutzers the gross centner, equal to about 25 cents the 123 pounds, or one-fifth of a cent a pound. The tariff law of June 27, 1878, made free, wool, raw, washed carded, colored, bleached, milled, and waste, and it has remained free to the present day.

QUANTITIES AND Values of Wool and MANUFACTURES OF WOOL IMPORTED INTO AND EXPORTED FROM AUSTRIA-HUNGARY 1875 TO 1890.

[One metric centner equals 123-4615 pounds. One gulden equals 48.5 cents.]

1886... 1887 1888...

36, 653, 000

56, 153|

16, 534, 000

17, 320

1889

49, 915, 000

19, 791, 000

1890

1891.

226, 194
89, 883
287, 180
60, 191
18, 133 10, 129, 000 127, 543
52, 808
259, 169 39, 671,000 55, 529 17,880, 000 19, 084 9, 624, 000 97, 786 20, 046, 000 51, 184
267, 307 37, 057, 000 61, 414 17, 720, 000 21, 754 11, 974, 000 70, 188 11,905, 000 37, 895 16,887,000

9,858, 000

18,740,000

47, 752

24, 910, 000

29, 488, 000

25, 315, 000

22, 514,000

The situation of Belgium in the wool trade (as a producer this country need hardly be considered, possessing in 1880 only 365,400 sheep and lambs) is peculiar. The imports of raw wools are very large, but they are largely intended for other markets of consumption. Thus, in 1891 the imports of wool in the general commerce of Belgium were 145,776,277 kilograms; in the special commerce only 42,162,612 kilograms. The quantity exported in the same year was 106,374,669 kilograms, of which only 2,761,004 kilograms were of Belgian origin, and the other part, 103,613,665 kilograms, was of foreign origin, in transit for European centers of consumption other than Belgian.

As a distributor of wool the position of Belgium has not materially changed since 1885. In that year the total imports were 139,911,382 kilograms, and in 1891 145,776,277 kilograms, an increase of about 4 per cent. The total exports in 1885 were 99,223,007 kilograms, and in 1891 106,374,669 kilograms, an increase of 7.2 per cent. The quantity of Belgian wool exported fell from 3,115,699 kilograms in 1885 to 2,761,004 kilograms in 1891, a decrease of 11 per cent. The sources of

supply of imports and the countries of destination of exports in the two years are shown in the following table:

Of the quantities exported in 1885 the larger share was derived from the Argentine Republic, 42,343,200 kilograms. This was an exceptional contribution from the Argentine, and has not been even approached in any subsequent year. In 1888 26,417,225 kilograms were of Argentine origin, and that quantity is nearer the normal. Of late years there has been a decrease; 27,755,092 kilograms in 1889; 19,208,282 kilograms in 1890; and 21,503,437 kilograms in 1891. The countries that have most benefited by the falling off of the imports from Argentine are Australia and France. In 1885 Australia contributed 17,961,455 kilograms; in 1889 only 9,265,922 kilograms. In 1890 the share of Australia rose to 20,854,138 kilograms, and in 1891 to 24,130,641 kilograms. To take the share contributed by France in 1885, 2,642,988 kilograms, would give a wrong impression of the importance of that country in this transit trade in wool of Belgium. In 1888 France gave 21,423,872 kilograms; in 1890, 19,477,864 kilograms; and in 1891, 19,388,560 kilograms. The decrease