head, especially in dates from Persia and the Arabian coast, the value of imports increasing by nearly 7 lacs.

Silk piece-goods.-There is a slight increase over the large importation reported last year, but the trade seems forced and is not considered remunerative.

Spices show an increase in value of upward of 10 lacs. The increase is chiefly in cloves, viz, 835,103 pounds in quantity, and in value 871,837 rupees. The increase in value is to be attributed to the high ruling market values being registered during the year under report, instead of the low tariff values during the preceding year. Other articles coming under this head show also more or less increase.

Sugar and other saccharine produce.-This item shows an enormous increase, both in quantity and value, viz, 214,867 cwt. and 3,781,529 rupees. The increase is attributed to the favorable crop at Mauritius, and also to the late shipments of the preceding year having been included during the year under report. The registry of the tariff value in the preceding year, and of market values during this year, has tended, to a certain extent, to increase the value. Heavy imports lowered prices, which caused large removals from this market to the interior, where large stocks are said to have remained undisposed of.

Tea. The importation of tea during the year under report is unusually large, being upward of 20 lacs of pounds to that of 10 lacs of the preceding year. The brisk demand at the close of the year 1874-75 has led to large imports of inferior quality from China. The consumption of this article is steadily increasing.

Tobacco, manufactured, shows an increase in value of 61,608 rupees. Umbrellas.-This item is noticeable for the increase in number, 262,723, and in value, of 179,561 rupees, over last year. The United Kingdom and China mostly supply the market at a very cheap rate.

Woolen piece goods.-The figures show a considerable increase over the last five years' average. As compared with the preceding year, there is an increase of upward of 9 lacs, which, after absorbing the decrease of 3 lacs of that year, leaves an excess of 6 lacs, which may be accounted for by the exceptional circumstances of the year.

DECREASE OF IMPORTS, BY ARTICLES.

Arms, ammunition, &c.-The importation of gunpowder, sporting, during the last year, which was greatly in excess of the average imports of the previous five years, has, in a measure, checked the importation of the year under report. Fire-arms also show a decrease. The articles coming under this head are almost wholly imported from the United Kingdom.

Building and engineering materials.-The imports of this year amount to 142,989 rupees against 242,829 rupees of the last year, resulting in a decrease of 99,840 rupees, which is chiefly in the imports of cements and clay from the United Kingdom.

Cotton twist and yarn.-This important item shows a decrease of 1,459,367 pounds in quantity and of 1,478,028 rupees in value. The difference in value is not proportionate to the difference in quantity, owing to the value shown during the year under report being market or real value, while that registered in the preceding year was tariff value, in accordance with the rule then in force. The decrease is chiefly in lower numbers, viz: in mule Nos. 16 to 32, and in Nos. 20 and 30, as also in colored yarns; while in the higher numbers of both mule and water there is an increase. The lower numbers produced in the local mills account for the decrease. Twist is wholly imported from the

United Kingdom. The re-exports during the year under report amount to 670,011 pounds, chiefly to Persia, Arabia, and Aden.

Dyeing and coloring materials.-This item includes a variety of arti cles. Aniline dyes, cochineal, madder, and sapanwood show an increase. There is a net decrease, however, of 84,440 rupees, which is to be accounted for by the fact that during the year 1874-75 the value of saffron registered was at the tariff rate of 16 rupees per pound, while during the year under report the market value, considerably lower (less than half the tariff value), has been registered.

Gums and resins, collectively, show a decrease of about 14 lacs, chieflyin resin. The decrease is also accounted for by the high tariff value of resin registered in the preceding year and the lower market value shown during the year under report.

Instruments and apparatus show a decrease of 64,593 rupees. The imports of the preceding year, 1874-75, considerably exceeded the averages of the previous five years.

Jewelry, &c.-This item shows a decrease of nearly 2 lacs of rupees, which is almost wholly in the importation of pearls from Arabia and Persia, where the fishery is said to have been unfavorable.

Paper and pasteboard.-The decrease of more than 2 lacs is owing to large importations during the two previous years, which left large stocks on hand.

Railway plant and railway and rolling stock show a decrease of upward of 3 lacs of rupees over the decrease of last year.

Silk, raw.-There is a slight decrease this year of 1,405 pounds. In value, however, the decrease is upward of 17 lacs of rupees, which is attributable to the market values being registered during the year under report.

Treasure:-The decrease is attributable to the considerable falling oft in the exports of cotton, amounting to nearly 24 crores during the year under report, which was, however, partly balanced by an increase in almost all other articles of export, notably in seeds.

Demonetization of silver.-The derangement caused by the demonetization of the silver currency of the German Empire, noticed in last year's report, has continued during the present year and seriously affected the exchange, which has been continuously adverse to remitters. Bar silver, which last year was quoted at the lowest price at 55ğd. per ounce, and which at the commencement of this year was at 57d. declined at the close to 524d., with a further downward tendency.

Statement showing the navigation at the port of Bombay for the year ending March 31, 1876. [From or to foreign and British ports.]

NASSAU, N. P., October 31, 1877. (Received December 3.)

Report upon the trade and agriculture of the Bahama Islands for the year ending June 30, 1877.

In the returns transmitted herewith is incorporated the entire trade of the Bahama Islands for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877.

The imports for this period amount to the sum of $640,995.91 and the exports to the sum of $490,184.16.

The following tables show the comparative values of both imports and exports from and to foreign countries.

TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

On reference to the above tables, it will be seen that the United States supplied in value nearly one-half of the total imports and received more than two-thirds of the total exports.

COMMERCIAL DECLINE OF THE BAHAMAS.

For many years past the commerce of the Bahamas has been sensibly declining, and unless some improvement takes place in their fruit and salt trade, no change for the better can be expected for the present. The annual revenue of the colony, which is almost entirely collected from imports, affords a striking proof of this fact; for although the customs duties are being frequently increased to meet annual deficits, yet at the expiration of every year the legislature has this recurring deficit to provide for by the imposition of some additional taxation.

TARIFF.

The customs duties at present collected upon imports average about 20 per cent. of their value. There is a long list of articles which pay certain specific duties, but the bulk are charged with an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent. There is a small export duty imposed upon all merchandise shipped from the colony which is not a product of the Bahamas. This is in reality a tax upon wrecked property, and the cargoes, which are landed and stored, of vessels calling here in distress. There is no export tax levied upon native produce, and indeed any foreign vessel loading with Bahama produce has her outward tonnage dues remitted.

While upon this subject of revenue, I would remark, that although this colony is a dependency of Great Britain, yet merchandise imported from the mother country pays the same duty as that from other countries, and British ships are charged with the same tonnage and other dues upon entrance and clearance as all other foreign vessels.

AGRICULTURE.

An earnest effort is being made by all classes of the community to improve and extend the agricultural interests of these islands. With this object in view the agricultural society is offering premiums for the cultivation in large quantities, of sugar-cane, tobacco, coffee, and arrowroot. In addition, to secure the permanent and successful production of tobacco, the government employs a skilled person to superintend and instruct those who desire to engage in its cultivation. These efforts are likely to meet with some success.

MAIL SERVICE.

During the year a new contract has been entered into with the former contractors, Messrs. Murray, Ferris & Co., of New York, for the performance of a mail and steam service between Nassau and the United States. This contract requires Messrs. Murray, Ferris & Co. to run a monthly steamer to and from New York throughout the year, and an additional semi-monthly steamer to and from Savannah and some port in Florida, from the month of December to April.

The old contract only provided for steam connection with New York in the summer and with Savannah every ten days in the winter. For the new service the government of the Bahamas is to pay a subsidy of £5,000 per annum. The objects aimed at in making this change are twofold: one is the accommodation of the business community and fruit-growers, by having steam-communication with New York throughout the year; the other is the additional inducement to Americans wintering abroad to visit Nassau, by having easy and frequent steam-connection with the South.

It is expected that this arrangement will be the means of largely increasing the number of visitors to this island during the winters. MAHLON CHANCE.

Statement showing the commerce of the Bahamas for the year ending June 30, 1877.