HONDURAS, BRITISH

279

town. Belize; population, census of 1911, 10,478 (4,601 males, and 5,877 females).

Revenue^ I Expenditure^! Imports^ j Exports" !

1907-08

£

75,761

106,317

497,062

454,946

lOOS-09 £

72,766 110,284 550,766 453,045

1900-10

£

80.912

121,835

556,430

454,532

1910-11

£

89,759

111,689

580,086

482,383

1911-1-2

£

98,257

109,490

593,966

552,644

1 Ordinary revenue.

- Incluflinsi expenditure from loans.

■'• For calendar years 1907 to 1911.

Chief soiirces of revenue : Customs duties (57,368Z. in 1911-12) ; excise, licences, land-tax, &c. ; also sale and letting of Crown lands. Expenditure mainly administrative and the various services. Debt 194,736Z. in 1912.

Value of imports subject to duty (1911), 375,477Z. ; duty free, 218,4897. Chief exports, mahogany (13,020,580 superficial feet in 1911), logwood (3,231 tons in 1911), bananas (450,365 bunches), cedar (1,498,744 feet), cocoanuts (5,198,899), chicle (3,219,990 lbs.). The transit trade .somewhat increases the traffic of the ports, especially in American manufacture.*-', indiarubber, chicle, sarsaparilla, coffee, &c. Besides the staple products, mahogany and logwood, there are bananas, coffee, cacao, plantains, &c. The higher parts afford good pasturage for cattle. Exports to United Kingdom in 1911, 69,026/. ; imports from the United Kingdom, 127,770Z.

Tonnage entered and cleared 1911, 588,367 tons, of which 158,898 was British. Registered shipping 1911, 326 sailing vessels of 5,097 tons and 29 steamers of 3,303 tons; total net tonnage, 8,400 tons. In 1911, 357,945 letters and post-cards, and 205,090 books, newspapers, and parcels passed through the post office. Telegraph and telephone lines connect Belize with Corozal, Consejo and other stations in the north. El Cayo in the west, and Punta Gorda in the south. Foreign telegrams are sent from Corozal to Payo Obispo, Yucatan (these two towns being connected by cable across the Hondo River), Avhence they are transmitted by the Mexican line. In 1911, 17,124 local and foreign telegrams were sent, and 16,054 telephonic conversations were held.

The Bank of British Honduras was established at Belize in 1903. There are 6 Government savings banks; depositors, 784 ; deposits, 92,557 dollars on December 31, 1911. United States gold is the standard of currency. The British sovereign and half-sovei'eign are legal tender for 4*86 dollars and 2*43 dollars respectively. 'I'here is (1911) a paper currency of 161,433 dollars in Government notes and a .subsidiary silver coinage of 159,000 dollars in circulation. There is also a bronze cent, piece and a nickel- bronze five-cent piece, whose issues amount to 3,250 dollars and 1,500 dollars respectively.

Referexcks : Colonial Reports. Annual. London.

Bristowe(h. W.) and Wright (P. B.), Handbook of British Honduras. Edinburgh, 1892

Gibbg(A. R.), History of British Honduras. London, 1883.

Morris (D.), The Colony of British Honduras. London, 1883.

Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Montserrat, Nevis, Hpp West Indies