Of the above vessels, 869, representing a tonnage of 788,000, cleared with cargoes. The steamers other than English were Russian, French, Austrian, and Italian boats, which are heavily subsidized by their respective governments, for carrying the mails.

The coasting trade is carried on by Russian vessels exclusively, and numbers 2,841, of 433,900 tons. Only 180 of the above were sailing vessels, representing a tonnage of 48,000.

4277-71

FULTON PAUL, Consul.

POLYNESIA.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

Annual report by Consul McKinley, of Honolulu, on the trade, dc., of the Hawaiian Islands for the year 1881.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

Honolulu, May 10, 1882.

The year 1881 has been by far the most prosperous that this island kingdom has ever seen. Aside from the small-pox epidemic that raged in Honolulu from February until June no drought or pestilence has interfered with the planters, and abundant crops of sugar and rice, the principal products, have been safely gathered and forwarded to their natural market on the Pacific slope of the United States. Business of all kinds has been unusually brisk, undisturbed by failures in commercial circles, and the statistics of exports and imports show a handsome balance of trade in favor of this group.

IMPORTS.

The total value of all goods imported into the kingdom for the year ending December 31 last is $4,547,978.64; value of imports for 1880, $3,673,268.41, showing an increase of $874,710.23 in 1881. Of this increase $620,019.22 is shown to be on goods "free by treaty" from the United States, and the balance, $254,691.01, on dutiable and free imports from the United States and other countries.

The following comparative statement of imports from the United States and other countries shows the value of goods imported, the countries from whence they came, and the increase in value for 1881 over the previous year:

The principal articles imported into the kingdom during the periods named in the above statement, together with the value of those that are from the United States free by treaty, and the increase in the value of each for 1881 are given in the following table:

It will be noticed by this table that with but few exceptions the increase in the importation of the articles named is quite large. Of those free by treaty, grain and feed and cotton goods show the largest increase, while among the articles showing a decrease, machinery, though showing an increase in the "free by treaty" column, shows a marked falling off from the total, 1880.

The increase in the importation of spirits is also quite large, and has excited considerable comment here; so much so that a law prohibiting their importation is being strongly urged. This kingdom, with a popu lation of about 60,000, of which 44,000 are natives, having a law prohibiting the sale of liquor to natives, has consumed during the year 1881-at all events the statistics show that these amounts have been taken out of bond for consumption-as follows:

Or over a gallon per capita for every man, woman, and child in the kingdom.

The total value of spirits, wines, ale, beer, porter, and cider imported during the year 1881 amounts to $223,475.02, exceeding in value the importation of 1880, $95,455.60.

The import duty on spirits is a very important item in the revenue, the receipts under that head for 1881 amounting to $177,126.03.

EXPORTS.

The total value of all exports from these islands for the year 1881 is shown to be $6,885,436.56, which, compared with the total of imports,

shows an excess in the value of exports of $2,307,459.92, a very handsome balance of trade in their favor.

The increase of exports over those of the preceding year is also quite large:

Total value of exports for 1881

Total value of exports for 1880

Increase 1881...

$8,8 5,436 56

4,968, 444 87

1,8-6,991 69

With but few exceptions, all articles in the list of domestic exports show this increase, principal of which are sugar, rice, wool, and molasses, as will be seen by the following comparative statements:

Nearly all of the above articles were sent to the Pacific ports of the United States, 24,016 gallons of molasses, 54,000 pounds rice, and 16,220 pounds of sugar going to British Columbia and the islands of the Pacific.

The statement of declared exports from this consular district for 1881 shows the total value of such exports to be $5,881,966.81, an increase over the previous year of $1,296,249.76. Of the former amount the item $14,477.37 for miscellaneous articles is mostly for returned goods, $4,180.35 catch of American whaling-vessels transshipped here, $8,262.49 the product of islands in the Pacific south of this group. The balance, $5,855,846.60, is the value of home production. Of the latter, $5,255,034.23 represents the value of sugar exported, $393,338.85 of rice, leaving a balance of $206,673.52 as the value of all other domestic exports.

A comparative statement of imports, exports, and customs receipts for 1880 and 1881 as to those of 1878-'79, clipped from the biennial report of the Haiwaiian minister of finance, is herewith appended.