Statement showing imports and exports in 1876, compared with 1875, in Austrian florins. NOTE.-Duty on imports for 1876, 18,938,475 florins; on exports (animal products), 226,946 florins. Statement showing the value of declared exports from Austria-Hungary during the year ending September 30, 1877, compared with 1876, in United States gold dollars. BOHEMIA. PRAGUE, October 11, 1877. (Received December 20.) Report upon the commerce and agriculture of Bohemia, for the year ending September 30, 1877. In obedience to consular regulations I have the honor to report upon the commerce, trade, and agriculture of this consular district. EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES. The statement of declared exports accompanying this report shows that the general decrease in business which began in 1873 has not yet ceased. This table, however, by no means gives an exact view of the real exports from Bohemia to the United States, as many of the exporters from the northen and western sectious have their invoices legalized in Saxony and Bavaria, and other Bohemian manufacturers who have agencies at Vienna have invoices legalized in that city. BOHEMIANS VS. GERMANS. The commerce and trade of Bohemia are inferior to those of the neighboring provinces of Germany. The inhabitants are equally temperate and industrious. The mountains which separate them have left the same fertile soil and the same variations of climate to both. The smaller extent of the commercial relations of Bohemia is explained by the difference of former governmental institutions, and by inferior schools. While the i English language was almost unknown in Bohemia it was studied in Germany, and this knowledge enabled the mannfacturers and merchants of Germany to establish agencies and branch houses in the United States and in England, and in many instances to send their own sons and relatives to conduct their business in person. It is an interesting fact in the history of Bohemia and Germany that children in Germany were studying English even while a grandson of a Queen of Bohemia sat upon the throne of England who could not speak the English tongue. BOHEMIAN MANUFACTURES. From the foregoing and other causes many Bohemian goods are exported through Saxon merchants. Some of the best musical instuments in the world are made in Bohemia (where music seems almost the natural language of the people); also laces, garnets, drugs, feathers, gloves, and the celebrated Bohemian glass ware, much of which is sent to the United States through German and English exporters. It would cheapen all these articles in the United States if bought directly of the original manufacturers in Bohemia. These influences and their effects seem now to have been recognized and English is taught in a few of the public schools. REVISION OF COMMERCIAL TREATIES. The commercial treaties which are about to be revised between Austria-Hungary and England and Germany, excite great interest among the people of Bohemia. The treaties appear to have been made when Austria was not in a position toward Prussia and England to act with entire independence of political considerations. At a recent meeting of manufacturers and merchants in this city, this question was discussed with great earnestness, and it was unanimously voted that the government be urged not to renew the treaties with England and Germany unless under a tariff which should protect home industries. AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL MACHINES IN BOHEMIA. Soon after my arrival here a fair was held in this city from the 8th to the 16th of September. By a decree of the ministry this fair is to be repeated hereafter every third year. It showed the great importance which is attached to all agricultural interests. The agricultural estates of Bohemia are held for the most part by the hereditary aristocracy, which prevents them from subdivision into small farms and gives to wealthy owners the means to introduce expensive machinery and implements. A steam plough was exhibited the price of which was upwards of $7,000. The fair was especially interesting to me from witnessing the number of American reapers, mowers, threshing-machines, wind motors, and diggers, which were exhibited with great approval. THE HARVESTS. Grain. The grain harvest, I am informed, was very satisfactory. The fruit harvest, which during the last two years has been much below the average, has been satisfactory. The fruit culture is of great impor tance. The Bohemian fruits are shipped in great quantities up the Elbe and Oder and sent via Stettin to Riga, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, and other parts of Northern Europe. Hops.-The cultivation of hops is the principal agricultural industry of some of the northern districts of Bohemia, especially of those of Saaz and Auscha. The former furnishes the best but most expensive hops in the world, and its inhabitants rely largely for their living upon the income from the hop harvest. The produce for the year 1876 was comparatively small, which caused much suffering. BEER EXPORTS. The production of beer has increased during this year and its export is growing in amount. It is claimed that the advance of chemical science has made it a worthy rival of wine among the wealthy; that its cheapness has made it a substitute for strong liquors among the poor, and that it is largely a remedy for the curse of intemperance among both. Within a few days a quantity of beer has been shipped from Bohemia to New Orleans, and shipments of the same are frequently made to San Francisco. CHARLES A. PHELPS. Statement showing the value of declared exports from Bohemia (consular district of Prague) to the United States during the four quarters of the year ending September 30, 1877. NOTE.-The above table by no means gives an exact view of the real exports from Bohemia to the United States, as many of the exporters from the northern and western sections have their invoices legalized in Saxony, Bavaria, and Vienna. TRIESTE. Statement showing the commerce at Trieste for the year ending December 31, 1876. Pig. *metrical quintals. Cast..... Wrought .do... ..do... 26, 221 Sheet Scrap.. .do.... .do.... 15, 239 Anchors. .do.. Chains Nails do.. .do.... 2, 418 Rails (railroad) Wire.... Fabrics (divers). 2,784 1, 813 Whence. Great Britain, 25,906; Austrian ports, 309; Italy, 6. Austrian ports, 1,218; Egypt, 297; Greece, 184; Turkey, Great Britain, 2,407; Italy, 9; Austrian ports, 2. Belgium, 1,213; France, 1,033; Great Britain, 511; Italy, Great Britain, 422; France, 72; Belgium, 26; Austrian Great Britain, 1,892; Italy, 1,466; France, 185; Austrian ports, 110; Turkey, 44; Belgium, 42; Egypt, 13; Greece, 5; Russia, 4; Malta, 1. France, 101; Great Britain, 90; Turkey, 30; Austrian ports, 1. Austrian ports, 8; Italy, 7; Great Britain, 5; France, 3. Metrical quintal 100 kilograms. NOTE.-The Trieste chamber of commerce, from which the consul received statistics for this report, gives only the quantities of imports and exports and the aggregate values. Applications to that quar ter for values of the different articles, the only standard by which the trade of the port can be properly judged, seem to have been made in vain.-B. Š. |