COMMERCE

411

The production of tin plates and terne plates was in 1904, 458,208 tons (census); in 1908, 537,087 tons; in 1909, 611,959 tons ; in 1910, 722,770 tons; and in 1911, 783,770 tons.

The total production of rolled iron and steel in 6 years is given (in gross tons) in the following table (official figures of the American Iron and Steel Association, Philadelphia) : —

Years

1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1011

Iron and steel rails

3,977,887 3,633,654 1,921,015 3,()2.i,84i 3,636,031

iBars, hoops, [ skelp, and shapes

9,502,600 9,912,726 5,394,789 9,987,068 10,742,640

Wire rods

1,871,614

2,017,583 1,816,949 2.335,685 2.241,830

2,822.790 I 9,229,357 ! 2,450,453

Plates and

sheets, except

nail ])late

4,182,156 4,248,832 2,649,693 4,234,346 4,955,484 4.488,019

N.iil plate Gross tons

54,211

52,027 45,747 63,746 45,294 48.522

Total Gross tons.

19,588,468

19,864,822 11,8^8,193 19,644,690 21,621,279 19,039,171

Tlie quantities of distilled spirits and of fermented liquors produced during the fiscal year 1911-12 were : —

Whisky .

Rum

Gin

High wine.s

Alcohol .

Tax gallons.

98,209,574

2,832,516

3,577,862

181,002

27,629,346

Tax gallons. Neutral and cologne spirit.s 45,809,685 Brandy .... 9,321,823

Total production 187,571,808

Fermented liquors, 62,176,694 barrels.

V. Fisheries.

In 1908 (latest census) there Avere in the United States 143,881 fishermen or 6,933 vessels and 83,549 boats, and the products were valued at 54,030,630 dollars. The capital invested Avas 42,021,000 dollars.

For the canning and preserving of fish there were in 1909, according to the census reports, 374 establishments, with an aggregate capital of 29,618,010 dollars, employing 9,977 wage-earners, using raw material valued at 19,964,429 dollav.s, and giving an output valued at 34,704,418 dollars.

Commerce.

The subjoined table gives the total value, in dollars, of the imports and exports of domestic merchandi.se in years ended June 30 : —

Year (ended June 30)

Imports of Merchandise

Exports of Merchandise

Year

(ended

' June 30)

Imports of Merchandise

Exports of Merchandise

1907 1908 1909

Dollars

1,431,421,425 1,194, .341, 792 1,311,920,224

Dollars

1,853,718,034 1,8.34,786,357 1,638,355,593

1910

. 1911

1912

Dollars

1,-556, 947,4.30 1,527,236,105 1,653,264,934

Dollars

1,710,083,998 2,013,549,025 2,170,319,828

In the United States the values are fixed not according to average prices, but according to invoices or shipping papers, which the importers and exporters have to produce. Forimports the invoices are signed by an American Consul ; for exports the shipping papers are signed by the exporter or agents at the port of shipment. The quantities and values are determined by declarations.

The • most favoured nation ' treatment in commerce between Great Britain and the United States was agreed to for 4 years by the treaty of 1815, was extended for 10

years by the treaty of 1818, and indeQnitely (subject to 12 months' notice) by that of 1827