Pit-props. The pit-props are a new article of commerce. They are young trees of three or four inches in diameter, cut in sections from three to eight feet in length. The 1,643,406 pit-props were all exported to England, where they are used extensively for propping up the coal strata in the coal mines. I doubt not these pit-props could be exported from the United States, especially from the pine-tree State, (Maine,) with great advantage to the exporter.

Comparative tabular statement showing the exportations of lumber from the port of Gottenburg for the 20 years from 1843 to 1862, inclusive.

Comparative tabular statement showing the quantities and descriptions of grain exported from Gottenburg, and the names of the countries where to, during the year 1862.

NORWAY.

BERGEN-O. E. DREUTZER, Consul.

OCTOBER 12, 1863. I have the honor herewith to transmit the annual report for this consulate for the year ending September 30, 1863. It is rather voluminous.

Annual report of the consulate of the United States of America.

The commerce of this city with Sweden has, during the past twelve months, been lively; and, although the articles of export have not been reliable in the Swedish market, a large number of vessels, loaded with fish, particularly herring, have cleared for Swedish ports, and, upon their arrival there, finding that the products could not be sold there with the expected profit, immediately leave in quest of other markets. But the consumption of Norwegian herring in Sweden will, generally, exceed that of any other country, with the exception, perhaps, of Russia, and for particular kinds of stock-fish, such as sej, (gadus vivens : Linnæus,) it is the head market; beside that, Sweden, next after Denmark, has furnished this city with great portions of her breadstuffs.

The commerce with Russia is, on account of the opened communication with the vast interior, largely on the increase. Fish products are imported in larger quantities, which is not only the case with Russia proper, but also Finland, which, last year, has imported considerable sej (gadus vivens) and rodskyjar (gadus morchua: Linnæus) from this country. The importation of grain from the south of Russia has, during the past year, been less active than in former years, and it is believed that only when the prices of grain are very high, it is advisable to import breadstuffs from so distant countries.

From Archangel there is but small importation of grain, and that particularly confined to Hammerfest and Tromsoe, and other places in the northern regions of this country. The importation of breadstuffs from the Baltic ports has been considerable. Hemp, of which Norway imports large quantities for cordage, has almost exclusively been imported from the Russian Baltic ports. The importation of manufactures of flax and hemp, such as sail-cloth from Russia, has of late years been on the decline, as these articles are now being manufactured in this country, and of late been imported cheaper from Scotland. In the Prussian market the Norwegian herring has been thrown in competition with that of the Scottish, and without any better success than heretofore. The particular advantage lies in the mode of curing, which, in this country, is very deficient, although the product in itself is as good, if not superior, in quality. The Prussian ports of the Baltic, which furnish Poland and part of Russia, import, as yet, large quantities of spring herring, and Pomerania the larger portion of the Norwegian summer herring; and in this way there is exchange for breadstuffs, particularly rye, so that the trade in that way is considerable with

that country.

Denmark, to judge from the lists of clearances, would stand as having a very large consumption of herring exported from this city, when that country in reality does not consume more than the average of 10,000 barrels thereof; but a great portion of the herring goes over to Copenhagen. The advantageous situation of that port makes it not a very inconsiderable market for the herring, and many ship-loads are there purchased for the account of Sweden, Prussia, and Mecklenburg. Smaller quantities of stock-fish and fish-oil have been imported into Copenhagen herefrom. The grain market of Denmark is of importance to Norway, although Sweden of late years has become its competitor. Although the credit which the market of this city enjoyed at Hamburg and Altona, after

the crisis in 1857, has been much reduced, the commerce with these two cities has not been lessened in any considerable degree. They are still, for Norway, the largest and most important market on the continent of Europe for several of the most important colonial products; and having railroad communications with all the larger cities of Central Germany, (for which many manufactories they have large depositories,) and there being regular and direct steamship communication between the city and these places, which makes the transportation easy, so that in all probability larger portions of manufactured and colonial goods will be furnished from these cities for some time to come. On the other hand, the central geographical position of those cities will probably always make it the principal market for all northern productions, and may always be considered as a reliable market of the export articles of Norway, particularly herring, cod-liver oil; also, skins and furs. Smaller quantities of stock-fish and larger portions of the copper ore are exported to this city. Hamburg is, for the present, the most important exchange market for the commerce of this city.

The most valuable article of export from this part of the country is cod-liver oil, for which Holland, the past year, was the most important market, or rather the inner Germany furnishes itself with this commodity over Holland. The exportation of dried fish (of which the stock-fish constitute the largest part) to Holland was the past year, as heretofore, of little importance; but since the import duty upon herring was abolished in Holland, small quantities of that article have been exported to that country, but no considerable trade in this product can be expected before the curing of the Norwegian herring is in some way bettered.

The trade upon Belgium with cod-liver oil and stock-fish has during the past year been almost passive. Holland and Belgium have furnished the greater part of all the tiles and brick used in this part of the country; also, large quantities of barrel hoops, cheese, butter, some refined sugar, and colonial products.

In Italy, the cities of Venice and Trieste continue to be the most important market for the sale of stock-fish; but it appears, since the detachment of Lombardy from Austria and the communications between Piedmont and Suisse has been facilitated, Genoa will secure much of the Venetian fish trade; and for the last year the exportation of fish to Genoa has been much in advance, and, at the same time, that of Venice and Trieste has decreased in the same proportion. The cause of this might be attributed to the unfortunate money matters of Austria, which is a considerable impediment in the way of the commerce with that country.

The exportation of fish products to upper Italy has of late years been on the decline, and that to central and southern Italy is at the present time very considerable, compared with that of ten or twenty years ago; but southern Italy has of late years labored under great disadvantage, the unsettled political aspects having greatly interfered with the commercial spirit. Less favorable harvests of grain, olives, and grapes have made it impossible for the lower classes, which are the principal consumers of the Norwegian fish, to purchase what they might wish of that commodity; and, beside having been very high in price here, (it having, also, been subject to very high import duty,) must render it a very high article of food; and to the larger cities of Italy there was a large importation of fish from Newfoundland, which appears will, in time, drive the Norwegian fish products out of the market. The reason of this is mostly attributed to the high prices which, for the present, are paid here for fish in its fresh state, but which, no doubt, in time will regulate itself.

The fish trade with Italy, upon the whole, is somewhat hopeful, as the prospects are of uniting all the Italian states; and the liberal Sardinian revenue tariff will be incorporated in the whole country, and that country will, perhaps, in time become a good market for the Norwegian herring. Small quantities of fish-oil were exported to upper Italy the past year.

The importation of salt from Italy is about the same as of former years. The white kinds from Sardinia and Sicily are preferred to other kinds for the curing of the spring or large herring.

With Spain the commerce of Bergen has, during the past year, been particularly advantageous. That country took nearly all the stock-fish which was exported from this city; and, notwithstanding the high prices, it has yielded a fair profit. Catalonia imported considerable stock-fish; but the usual exportation of cod-liver oil and spawn to that country was, the past year, unimportant, these products being mostly furnished from the towns of Aalesund and Christiansund. The importation from Spain was limited to a little salt fruits and wine. Without a doubt, when the railroad now in progress is completed, leading to the grain-producing districts, considerable amount of grain might be taken in exchange for fish products. Large portions of the Spanish vessels loading fish in Norway, having now to come there in ballast, would carry grain at a very low freight; but for this project the differential duty, which is particularly high on wheat flour, will be somewhat of a barrier.

The exportation from this city to Portugal has, during the year, only consisted in a small quantity of stock-fish. In the year 1860 some cargoes were shipped over Spain to Lisbon, and sold there at a good profit. The reason that the Norwegian fish is not imported to that country is, that the fish trade of that country is monopolized by some heavy English mercantile houses, who import this article from Newfoundland. But it is to be hoped that when the railroad, now completed to the Spanish boundary, is opened, Norwegian fish might be imported over Spain, providing the Spanish revenue laws do not lay hindrance in the way of such indirect importation.

The imports from Portugal, the past year, consisted in considerable salt, wine, fruit, and corkwood.

The commerce of this city with France, although of the greatest importance for the staple products of the southern and eastern cities of this country, is for the fish products of little value, with the exception of the greater portion of the spawn, which yearly value seldom exceeds 120,000 specie dalers. This extensive country only imports a trifling amount of stock-fish and cod-liver oil. The treaty of commerce which is now stipulating between France and Sweden and Norway, the issue of which is looked for with hopeful anxiety, is thought to be favorable for the importation into France of Norwegian fish products; and if the government of France will continue, as it has of late years, to regulate and modify the tariff of import duty, it is looked for that the extraordinary protection of the French fisheries will also disappear; in which case France might be made the best market for all kinds of fish products. The importation of salt from France has been very trifling; and, besides the common products, such as wines, spirituous liquors, and fruit, only a small quantity of grain and butter. The coast of Great Britain has an abundant supply of fish of all kinds, so that no fish is exported to that country, with the exception of small quantities of salmon, mackerel, and lobsters; and the exports from this city besides that consist only in bone, paper rags, old rigging, and a few other articles. As the steamship navigation and industrial pursuits are steadily progressing, the importation of coal and iron has, from necessity, increased in the same proportion, of which articles this city imported large quantities from Great Britain, also of cotton and logwood. English manufactures have been imported in usual quantities, also the usual quantity of salt from Liverpool.

By order of a commercial house at Hong-kong, a cargo of stock-fish was sent there, and was sold at good profits. What the prospect of future commercial intercourse with that vast country will be, cannot with any certainty now be determined; much, however, cannot be expected, as the long transportation will make the fish products very high, and the present high prices of stock-fish here render it exceedingly hazardous to export any more to that country at this

time. In general, with countries outside of Europe this city has had no considerable commercial intercourse; a few cargoes of dried fish have been exported to Brazil and Cuba; but the cities north of this appear to have had commerce with the latter places; some coffee from the former and sugar from the latter have been imported direct, but it has been found to be of more advantage to import those staples from Hamburg and Altona.

The commercial communication between this city and the United States has, since the year 1835, been inconsiderable-or rather, with the exception of a cargo of rye in the year 1856, which had taken heat on the voyage, and was imported direct from the United States, and the same year about 600,000 lbs. of stock-fish (cod) exported direct to New York, has been passive until the year 1862, in which year a direct communication was opened between this city and Chicago, Illinois. A schooner of ninety-five tons burden, with cargo and passengers, was despatched to the latter place, and returned with full cargo. The enter prise proved as profitable as could well be expected, the charges through the river St. Lawrence and the Welland canal being disproportioned to the size of the vessel. The persons engaged in the enterprise found the prospect promising, had the vessel enlarged and fitted out for that trade, and she was again despatched for Chicago this spring with cargo and passengers. Another smaller vessel also cleared for Chicago from this port last spring with full cargo. Three cargoes of rye have been imported to this city direct from New York, all which arrived here in good condition. I am happy to exhibit a change in the commercial intercourse between this country and the United States. Much, however, cannot be expected under the circumstances. After the rebellion, so disastrous to the commerce of the world, closes, I am in hopes that the merchants of the United States will give a little of their attention to this country.

One difficulty in the way of commerce between this country and the United States, viz., the existing high import duties in the United States upon the fish products, which constitute the first and most important staples of this country, and consequently, under the present tariff, no Norwegian fish can be imported into the United States. The distance between the countries ought to be sufficient guarantee for protection, and makes an easy competition for the American and English fish from the banks; and so far as the fish products of this country are concerned the tariff is almost a dead letter, particularly for herring and mackerel. Another difficulty which cannot well be obviated is, as I have been credibly informed, that quantities of fish, particularly herring, are yearly shipped from Norway to the British provinces, and in some way come in free of duty, and from thence are transported into the interior of the United States under the reciprocity treaty, which practices cannot but discourage the honest trader, who has to encounter such uneven competition, especially upon the lake ports, with the same kind and quality of products. I have watched the matter since it was brought to my notice; I can find no shipping of fish to the Canadas of any amount upon the books of the custom-house here; but ships clear here for England for orders, going out in ballast in quest of freights, but are really destined for Quebec or Montreal. Under these circumstances I cannot ascertain how to find any vessel taking in fish products for the Canadian ports.

The grain trade of Norway is worthy of some attention. The yearly importa tion averages between 7,000,000 and 8,000,000 bushels, including all kinds of grain and breadstuffs, and I think by removing the obstacles placed in the way of introduction of the Norwegian fish trade into the United States, greater portions of it might be secured to our citizens, providing the sacrifice on the part of the United States by the way of reduction of duty upon fish products will not cause greater loss of import duty upon those products imported from other countries than the advantage which might accrue to the United States from the commerce with Norway. But beside the advantage of the grain trade, Norway imports large quantities of all kinds of provisions and large portions of manu