and the market became dull, lasting until June and July, when prices improved somewhat. The second half-year was marked by continuous fluctuations in prices, keeping more or less even pace with favorable and unfavorable reports concerning the coming crops and the larger or smaller demand for consumption. A general dullness existed during the last two months of the year, principally in good ordinary quality, which, on account of favorable crop reports, could be bought at lower prices than some months before. Better quality maintained its price. The imports amounted to:

The imports of Java cocoa beans into the Netherlands have been:

Prime Java cocoa beans sold during 1898 from 39 cents ($0.15%) to 44 cents ($0.17) per one-half kilogram (1.1 pound). The imports of Surinam cocoa beans were very small, amounting to only 1,000 bags in 1898 against 1,650 bags in 1897 and 3,000 bags in 1896. The average price of same was 44 cents ($0.17) per one-half kilogram.

Statement showing the crops of cocoa beans of the main countries of production.

Prices of cocoa butter A, sold by monthly auctions, by the firm of C. J. van Houten's Son-one of the leading cocoa manufacturers of Holland-in 1898, per one-half kilogram (1.1 pounds):

EUROPE: NETHERLANDS.

Statemeni showing the sales and average price of cocoa butter, by auction, by the firm of C. J. van Houten's Son, during the last nine years.

RICE.

The rice trade was marked in the beginning of the year by great calmness. On account of the large stock on hand and the enormous estimate of the 1898 Burma rice crop, very little notice was taken of better foreign reports. Gradually, prices for the article became more favorable, caused by larger demands for Burma rice for different countries outside of Europe; also a larger demand for cleaned rice, and consequently decreasing stock, and the demand for grain for France and Germany, caused by the small crops of the preceding year.

During the months of April and May, prices improved nearly 30 per cent, declining afterwards, but showing some improvement in December.

The imports into the Netherlands in 1898 amounted to 1,737,000 bags, against 1,545,000 bags in 1897, 1,303,000 bags in 1896, 1,538,000 bags in 1895, and 1,152,000 bags in 1894.

Cleaned Java table rice sold first from 10 florins ($4) to 16 florins ($6.40); afterwards from 12 florins ($4.80) to 18 florins ($7.20).

Ordinary Java sold at 84 florins ($3.40) to 10 florins ($4); Rangoon and Bassein from 6 florins ($2.60) to 81 florins ($3.40); Saigon from 4 florins ($1.80) to 5 florins ($2.20) per 50 kilograms (110 pounds).

SPICES.

Nutmegs and mace.-The trade was not very brilliant during the year 1898. During the first quarter of the year, conditions were good, and prices improved, even in March, after the auctions and inscriptions, nearly 10 per cent. They declined during the latter part of the year, showing a difference of 10 to 15 per cent from the March prices. With some exceptions the quality of the nutmegs was better than in 1897. The quality of mace was inferior. Nutmegs, first quality, sold in the first part of the year at 1.30 to 1.35 florins ($0.52 to $0.54); and were afterwards quoted at 1.20 to 1.25 florins ($0.48 to $0.50). Second quality at first at 0.85 to 0.95 forin ($0.34 to $0.36); afterwards at 0.80 florin ($0.32). The imports consisted of 775,000 kilograms (1,705,000 pounds). The sales amounted to 852,000 kilograms (1,874,000 pounds), the stock on hand being 282,000 kilograms (620,400 pounds). Prices of Banda mace varied from 1.10, 1.20 to 1.05 florins ($0.44, $0.48, $0.42). Two hundred and twenty-six thousand kilograms (497,200 pounds) have been imported-215,000 kilograms (473,000 pounds) sold, stock on hand consisting of 45,000 kilograms CR 98-VOL 2-30

(99,000 pounds). Padang mace sold at 1 to 1.10 florins ($0.40 to $0.44); inferior quality at 0.75 to 0.95 florin ($0.30 to $0.38).

Of mace peel, 13,000 kilograms (28,600 pounds) sold in this market from 0.16 to 0.25 florin ($0.06% to $0.10).

Amboina cloves.-The imports of this article were larger than the preceding year, and the trade was important. Prices advanced from 0.25 florin ($0.10) to 0.32 florin ($0.124) during the months of January and February, however to close at 0. 30 florin ($0.12) at end of the year.

The imports amounted to 2,800 bags, the sales to 1,500 bags, and the stock on hand to 740 bags.

Zanzibar cloves.-On account of the varying crop reports, there was an important trade during the first half year at fluctuating prices. In January, prices advanced from 0.16 to 0.25 florin ($0.06% to $0.10), declining in March to 0.20 florin ($0.08), to close again at 0.25 florin ($0.10) at the end of the year.

White pepper.-The imports of white Java pepper consisted of 700 bags, the sales amounting to 800 bags. Prices advanced from 0.45 to 0.60 florin ($0.18 to $0.24).

Black pepper.-Imported, 2,600 bags; sold, 2,500 bags. Prices increased from 0.20 to 0.26 florin ($0.08 to $0.103).

Statement showing the imports of nutmegs, mace, cloves, and pepper into the Netherlands during the last five years.

The following quotations show the prices of nutmegs, mace, cloves, and pepper during the last five years:

Nutmegs.-1894, 1, 0.95, and 1 florin ($0.40, $0.38, and $0.40); 1895, 1, 0.95, and 1 florin ($0.40, $0.38, and $0.40); 1896, 1, 0.90, and 0.85 florin ($0.40, $0.36, and $0.34); 1897, 0.85 florin ($0.34); 1898, 0.85, 0.95, and 0.80 florin ($0.34, $0.38, and $0.32).

Mace.-1894, 1.10, 0.95, 1.20, and 1.10 florin ($0.44, $0.38, $0.48, and $0.44); 1895, 1.10, 0.95, and 1 florin ($0.44, $0.38, and $0.40); 1896, 1, 0.95, and 0.90 florin ($0.40, $0.38, and $0.36); 1897, 0.95 and 1.10 florin ($0.36 and $0.44); 1898, 1.10, 1.20, and 1.05 florin ($0.44, $0.48, and $0.42).

Cloves.-1894, 0.28, 0.32, and 0.30 florin ($0.114, $0.124, and $0.12); 1895, 0.30, 0.25, and 0.22 florin ($0.12, $0.10, and $0.084); 1896, 0.22, 0.23, and 0.20 florin ($0.08, $0.091, and $0.08); 1897, 0.20, 0.26, and 0.24 florin ($0.08, $0.103, and $0.093); 1898, 0.25, 0.32, 0.27, 0.30, and 0.26 florin ($0.10, $0.12, $0.10%, $0.12, and $0.10).

Pepper.-1894, 0.124, 0.10, 0.11, 0.10, 0.12, and 0.10 florin ($0.05, $0.04, 80.04%, $0.04, $0.05, and $0.04); 1895, 0.10, 0.12, 0.11, 0.12, and 0.10 florin ($0.04, $0.043, $0.04%, $0.05, and 80.04); 1896, 0.10, 0.101, 0.10, and 0.114 florin ($0.04, $0.043, $0.04, and $0.043); 1897, 0.11, 0.14, 0.14, 0.15, 0.144, 0.19, 0.17, and 0.183 florin ($0.043, $0.05%, $0.053, $0.06, $0.05%, $0.073, $0.06%, and $0.07); 1898, 0.19, 0.20, 0.261, 0.241, and 0.26 florin ($0.073, $0.08, $0.103, $0.094, and $0.10%).

TIN.

The price of tin advanced, during the year 1898, 36 per cent. Banka and Billiton tin, quoted January 1, 1898, at 374 florins ($15.07), closed at end of the year at 51 florins ($20.70). Straits tin also advanced from 37 florins ($15.17) to 514 florins ($20.60).

The imports of tin into the Netherlands amounted to the following:

Notwithstanding the exceedingly large crop of 1897-98, prices did not reach the low point which was expected. Although the crop was large, the same was true of the demand for consumption. During the month of May prices advanced 0.03 florin ($0.013), principally on account of the expected small cultivation and the war between the United States and Spain, which it was feared might harm the cotton crop. As this, however, was not the case, prices could not maintain themselves, and fell again.

1

Statement showing the imports of cotton at Amsterdam during the last twenty-five

Statement showing the weekly price quotations of cotton at Amsterdam during the

year 1898.

The condition of the Java indigo trade was unfavorable during 1898; the stock increased continually, consisting at last of 7,800 chests, whereas the sales were small.

The stock on hand at Amsterdam and Rotterdam at the end of the year was larger than the preceding year, being 4,750 chests in 1898, against 3,750 chests in 1897.

The imports of Java indigo into the Netherlands during the last ten years amounted to