Of kerosene oil, 8,041,790 gallons were imported July-September, 1886, all of which was American. Of sailing vessels entered in the quarter, 14 were from New York. The exhibit of the import of cotton goods is very cheering, and while there was a falling off in the number of pieces of American sheetings as compared with the same quarter of 1885, it is accounted for by the excess of stock on hand from the last quarter of this class of goods.

Venezuelan duties on tombstones, statues, &c.-Consul Bird communicates the following decree of the Venezuelan Government, issued November 5, 1886:

The President of the Republic, making use of the authorization that article 10 of the law of the tariff of importation concedes to the executive power, and with the affirmative vote of the federal council, has deemed proper to resolve that tombs, statues, busts, urns, and flower-vases of marble, alabaster, granite, or any other analogous stone, that may be imported through the custom-houses of the Republic, be appraised for duty under the third class of the tariff.

Pipe-line from Baku to Batoum.-Consul Thomas E. Heenan writes from Odessa, November 26, 1886:

The Russian newspapers have had a great deal to say of late about a petroleum pipe-line from Baku to Batoum, one paper asserting that the Government had declared its intention to authorize its construction at an early day. This statement was, I believe, premature. There is no doubt, however, that it is very possible the Russian Government will take some decided step in this matter within a short time, and in view of the possibility of the construction of the line being decided upon, American manufacturers should be early in the field to compete with Europeans for supplying the material necessary for this line.

The size of pipe talked of is 7 inches inside diameter, the length of the line about 550 miles, and the greatest elevation about 3,000 feet.

Royal Trans-African Railroad.-Vice-Consul Robert S. Newton writes from St. Paul de Loando, under date of November 13, 1886:

The work of constructing the railway from Loando to Ambaca, and styled the Royal Trans-African Railway, was inaugurated on the 31st ultimo. The works are commenced and large numbers of natives and others employed, and it is expected the line will be ready for traffic within the time mentioned in the contract, or four years. A vessel with a cargo of materials for constructions is expected every day from the States, and most likely, as the work progresses, other products of the United States will be in requisition.

Salt production in Spain.-The following was communicated to the Department by Consul Ingraham, under date of December 4, 1886:

According to the annual report of the Cadiz Salt Association, the quantity of salt extracted from November 1, 1885, to October 31, 1886, while not reaching the production of 1883-'84, was much larger than the amount made in 1884-'85, as the following figures show:

November 1, 1884 to October 31, 1885
November 1, 1885 to October 31, 1886

Lasts.*

91,500

110,500

The conditions for extracting salt were this year unusually favorably, and have resulted in a considerable increase of the stock on hand, now amounting to about 129,000 lasts, or some 14,000 lasts over that on hand at the same time last year. The committee recommended no change in the price, which rules at $5.50 per last.

Spanish crops, 1886.-Consul Ingraham writes:

The last information I have obtained respecting the wine crop for 1886 is, that the result has been good in quantity as well as quality in all the provinces of Cadiz and and Huelva, with little difference from that of previous years.

Olive oil.-In Cadiz the crop is very small. In Seville and Huelva eating-olives have been very abundant and of superior quality. The prospect of olives for oil, to be gathered in December, is fine. (Cadiz, November 29, 1886.)

*A last is 2 tons.

Declared exports of Lyons.-Consul Bryan transmits the following from Lyons, under date of November 30:

Falue of declared exports from the consular district of Lyons to the United States during the first eleven months of the years 1886 and 1885.

Commerce of the West Indies.-Consul Moses H. Sawyer transmits the following table to show the commercial importance of the British West Indies: