TRADE AND INDUSTRY.

339

Tears

Exports from the Netherlands

Imports of British Home Produce

to Great Britain

into the Netherlands

&

£

1860

8,256.690

6,114,862

1861

7,692,895

6,434,919

1862

7,863,031

6,046.242

1863

8,661,119

6,324.696

1864

11,660.539

6,885,463

1865

12,451,466

8,111,022

1866

11,768,913

8,999,713

1867

10,822,238

9,422,742

1868

11,390,924

10,395.098

1869

12,739,744

10,758,194

The principal article of export from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom is butter, the average value of which, in the ten years 1860-69, was about 1,500,000/. Live animals, of the average value of 750,000/., corn, of the value of 300,000/., and spirits, of 30,000/., form the other chief exports. The staple articles of British imports into the Netherlands are cotton and woollen manufactures, averaging two millions sterling per annum.

The following table shows the number and tonnage of the vessels belonging to the Netherlands mercantile marine on December 31, 1868 :—

Description of Vessels

Ships

Tons

Clippers (Clippershepen)

16

6,000

,, with steam power .

2

1.878

Ships (Fregatten) .

120

55,843

Barques (Barkeu en Pinken).

278

85,ln3

Brigs (Brikken) .

225

26,600

Schooners (Sehoeners) .

387

32,759

Galliots (Gralgooten)

288

17,415

Koff boats (Koffen)

575

29,224

Smacks (Smakken)

25

883

Luggers (Gaffel-en Kaagsehepen)

10

276

Hookers (Hockerschepen)

148

3,429

Steamboats ......

43

8,136

Total .

2,117

267,596

The mercantile navy has been decreasing of late years. On the 31st of December, 1864, it numbered 2,2*1) vessels, of 55 1,244 tons, and on the 31st of December, 1865, it had fallen to 2,203 vessels, of 269,338 tons burthen. It will be seen from the above statement that, at the end of 1868, there was a continued decline.

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