THE GRAIN TRADE.

From October 1, 1876, to October 1, 1877, the following quantities of grain were imported direct from the United States to Rotterdam: wheat, 284,500 bushels; rye, 418,500 bushels; maize, 161,500 bushels.

Wheat. The import of this article was not so great as in previous years; for Russia, in the autumn of 1876, furnished the necessary quantities at cheaper rates than the American markets offered; and the region around the Baltic Sea has undermined the commerce of the United States in this article by better inducements.

The price of Milwaukee wheat in April of this year was from 325 florins to 330 florins per 2,400 kilograms; and in June and July the price rose to 370 florins per 2,400 kilograms, when the offers became better and cheaper, in consequence of the brilliant American crop of this year. A large trade was developed in the after-summer of this year at 320 to 310 florins per 2,400 kilograms, while the price again increased to 345 florins per 2,400 kilograms at the end of September, 1877. In addition to the above figures, considerable quantities of American wheat have been brought to Holland via Antwerp and the English coast.

Rye. Of this article larger imports have been received from the United States than in former years, and the quality was considered superior to that imported from other countries. In November, 1876, the price was quoted at 211 florins per 2,400 kilograms. In May of this year it reached its maximum price of 240 to 250 florins per 2,400 kilograms, but fell to 200 florins in the month of September, 1877.

Indian corn.-Larger quantities of Indian corn were imported into Rotterdam during this year than in the preceding, partly owing to the fact that its consumption is largely increasing, and partly for the reason that the imports from Southern Russia and the region of the Danube have decreased during the year. The value of maize during the months of April and May of this year was quoted at 7 florins per 100 kilograms, and in September at 8 florins.

BEEF AND pork.

But small quantities of beef and pork were imported into this port from the United States during the past year.

RESIN.

The prices of this article fluctuated from 4 florins to 3 florins per 50 kilograms during the year; the whole amount of resin imported during this year, in American vessels, was 3,664 barrels. The price now stands at 34 florins per 50 kilograms.

EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES.

The total value in gold of the declared exports to the United States from the port of Rotterdam, during the year ending September 30, 1877, was $805,669.30. During the year ending September 30, 1876, the exports amounted to $673,068.76, thus showing an increase for this year of $132,630.53.

One of the principal exports from this port to the United States is garancine, of which $101,091.24 is the valuation of the export during the present year. Madder is the second in importance, of which, during the same period, $72,521.55 was exported. The third export in importance

is that of seeds, valued at $70,056.42. The export of cheese during the same period amounted to $57,474.60. While the export of gin for the same period from the port of Rotterdam amounted to $44,212.78, its valuation from the port of Schiedam was $87,806.74; and while the export of herring from the port of Rotterdam amounted to $13,318.64, its estimated value from Schiedam, during the same period, was $112,789.45. Among the exports from this port that of petroleum barrels may be specially noticed.

NAVIGATION.

The following condensed report of the Chamber of Commerce of this city shows a gradual increase of the shipping movement at this port:

American tonnage.-From October 1, 1876, to October 1, 1877, only 12 American vessels, with a tonnage of 7,851.98, entered this port, against 20 vessels, with a tonnage of 11,429, in the year 1875-76.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE MAAS.

Notwithstanding the large sums of money that have heretofore been expended in the improvement of the new channel of the river Maas, the Netherlands Government, fully appreciating the importance of this undertaking, have appropriated the additional sum of 3,000,000 guilders for the further purpose of widening and deepening the channel by dredg ing and excavation. Upon the complete success of this vast enterprise depends largely the future existence of Rotterdam as a great commercial emporium.

THE NETHERLANDS-AMERICAN STEAMSHIP COMPANY.

This important commercial enterprise merits the highest commendation for the energy and perseverance displayed during the long seasons of commercial depression through which it has passed. Although the company has not yet been able to declare handsome dividends, nevertheless, during this year, it has added the fifth large steamer to the line, and at the beginning of the new year will endeavor to make departures to and from Rotterdam and New York every ten days.

The following interesting statistics in regard to emigration have been prepared by the company, showing the number of steerage passengers that have taken passage to and from New York on that line during the last three years:

During the year 1874, 1,106 emigrants took passage by this line for New York, and 405 returned.

During the year 1875, 947 took steerage passage for New York, and 868 returned.

During the year 1876, 1,003 emigrants embarked by this line for New York; 1,619 steerage passengers returned.

FINANCIAL.

Rate of discount.-The official rate of discount of the Netherlands Bank has been, during the year 1877, as follows: For bills of exchange bearing more than two signatures, 3 per cent. discount; for promissory notes or bills of exchange not bearing more than two signatures, 32 per cent. discount; for advance on Netherlands securities, 3 per cent. discount; for advance on foreign securities, 3 per cent. discount; for advance on merchandise, 3 per cent. discount.

Gold and silver.-Gold is coined by government and by private persons at the government mint at Utrecht. The amount of gold coined during the present year by the Netherlands Bank is now about 11,000,000 of guilders.

Silver has not been coined during this year. The coining of silver for account of private parties has been temporarily prohibited by act of Parliament. This suspension terminates on the 31st of December, 1877, and a bill to extend the prohibition for another period is before the chambers now, and will probably receive their sanction.

Silver and gold are both legal tender for all public and private debts in any amounts.

Investments of capital.-In regard to the investment of capital by the Netherlands public, only a small fraction of the funds out of the redeemed United States 5 20 bonds has been invested in new American 4 and 4 per cent. government securities. The greater part appears to have been invested in Russian Government securities, which have been thrown upon the money market in large quantities, mostly from London, and which offer a higher rate of interest.

JOHN F. WINTER.

Statement showing the value of declared exports from Rotterdam to the United States during the four quarters of the year ending September 30, 1877.

Statement showing the value of declared exports from Rotterdam, &c.—Continued.

Statement showing the values of declared exports from the consular district of Padang to the United States during the four quarters of the year ending September 30, 1877.

PERU.

CALLAO, September 30, 1877. (Received November 5.)

Report upon the agriculture, commerce, and industries of Peru for the year ending September 30, 1877.

LACK OF STATISTICS.

In submitting my annual report, I must draw attention to the impossibility of getting any reliable official statistics here. No official reports are published, save of the exports and imports of the port of Callao, and this is more the work of a few enterprising merchants than of the gov ernment.

EARTHQUAKE AND REVOLUTION.

The year now drawing to a close will be ever memorable in the history of Peru. On the 9th and 10th of May a terrific earthquake and tidal wave swept the whole coast, exhausting its strength and fury mostly to the southward of this port, destroying much property and many lives, and crippling for a time the guano and nitrate exportations. Soon afterward a band of revolutionists, in the interest of Pierola, seized the Peruvian iron-clad steamer Huascar in this port, and proceeded down the coast, depredating for supplies upon the English marine, thereby becom ing involved in a quarrel with the officials of that nation, and resulting in a naval engagement with the English ships Shah and Amethyst, under command of Admiral De Horsey, and though little damage resulted from the action, the Huascar, under cover of night, made the Peruvian fleet and surrendered, thus putting an end to this attempt at revolution. The political tranquillity of the country is, however, by no means assured; arrests are being frequently made of plotters and conspirators, and unless the congressional elections, which take place on the 21st of October, should result in favor of the administration, the opinion prevails that the country will again be involved in civil war. This state of affairs has produced a general distrust among commercial men, and causes the financial condition of the country to be the reverse of a healthy condition; the paper money issued by the banks and guaranteed by the government is much depreciated, and all business is transacted on the basis of the silver sole.

RAILROADS.

The railroad interest of the country has in many cases succumbed to the financial pressure, and work on those now in course of construction has been suspended, and it is feared that the death of Henry Meiggs, the great railroad contractor, now looked for daily, will greatly disarrange, if not entirely prevent, the early completion of those roads under his charge.

The Oroya road, which, if ever completed, is to connect Callao with Oroya, a distance of 136 miles, is now completed to Rio Blanco, 83 miles;