that has occurred in the wools credited to the United Kingdom is doubtless due to an increased direct importation from Australia and other British colonies. In 1885 the contribution of England was small as compared with subsequent years, 17,641,853 kilograms. In 1888, 30,061,873 kilograms; in 1889, 28,258,265 kilograms; and in 1890, 26,235,601 kilograms were obtained from the United Kingdom. In 1891 these imports fell to 19,674,385 kilograms. I can only repeat, it is from the commercial side that Belgium presents any point of interest in the wool industry, constituting, as it were, the center of distribution for feeding the needs of other continental countries.

One point may be mentioned in connection with these returns, the general stability of the price or valuation of imported and exported wools in the Belgian returns.

Since writing the above the returns of 1892 have been received. I take the opportunity offered to give in parallel columns the "general" and the "special" commerce in wool of Belgium, to still further indicate the character and extent of the indirect movement:

DENMARK. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF RAW WOOL, 1874-1891.

Imports.
Exports.

QUANTITIES AND VALUES OF WOOL AND MANUFACTURES OF WOOL IMPORTED INTO AND EXPORTED FROM BELGIUM, 1874 TO 1891.

[One kilogram equals 2.20462 pounds; one franc equals 19.3 cents.]

Prior to 1888 Denmark exported more raw wool than it imported, and in that year the movement was almost balanced: 2,794,647 punds (pund=1.1025 pounds) of imports, and 2,775,325 punds of exports. Since that year the imports have increased, till they attained the amount of 3,770,205 punds in 1891, as compared with an export 2,633,254 punds. The quantity of manufactures of wool imported remained about the same in the two years: 6,141,384 punds in 1888 and 6,255,527 punds in 1891. The number of sheep and lambs has not been returned since 1888; but the returns of that and previous years point to a steady decline: 1,842,481 in 1871; 1,719,249 in 1876; 1,548,613 in 1881; and 1,225,196 in 1888. If the years subsequent to 1888 give a like percentage of loss as the years previous, the number will have fallen below 1,000,000 at the present time. As a factor in the supply of wool Denmark has no influence; and as a consumer, its demand is so small as to be inappreciable in comparison with the takings of other countries. The tariff law in force in 1844 imposed on wools of every description an import duty of 1 rix dollar and 4 skellings (96 skellings=1 rix dollar banco) the hundred pounds, equivalent to one-third of a cent a pound. Denmark charges no duty on imported wool of any kind or on hair, raw or prepared but not worked.

H. Mis. 94- -33