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factured goods. The imports of this country are, on the whole, large in proportion to its population, which might be seen from my former reports containing statistics of imports and exports of Norway for the years 1860 and 1861; and it is to be hoped that the facts exhibited will be sufficient encouragement to inquire into the expediency for some enterprising Americans to open direct and regular steam navigation between the United States and the Scandinavian peninsula, which would at once change commercial aspects. This country is considerably behind the age in advancement, and the commercial relations that now exist with other countries, which have existed for centuries, cannot be abruptly broken off; and, besides, the enterprising spirit of the people of Norway does not run high in the way of speculation; but they are honest and prudent, and worthy of confidence. After trade is once introduced it will no doubt continue to the advantage of both countries. Another difficulty is the postal communication between this country and the United States, and it is much regretted that this country was not represented at the late postal convention at Paris. The postal communication is not correct; consequently it takes longer time; the shortest time is twenty-two days in the summer and twenty-eight in the winter for letters from New York to Bergen.

I will here state the exports and imports of the city of Bergen, direct to and from the United States, during the year ending September 30, 1863, in detail, being a direct increase, when under other circumstances it would not be worth

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The whole number of vessels entered into the port of Bergen from foreign countries from October 1, 1862, to September 30, 1863, was 984, with a tonnage of 124,943, of which 652 were of foreign nations, as follows: Norwegian, 332; Swedish, 165; Danish, 173; Holland, 125; Belgium, 13; Great Britain, 40; Prussian, 52; Spanish, 20; Russian, 23; Hanoverian, 12; Hamburg, 4; French, 23; United States, 1; Oldenburg, 1. Of which number, 9 Norwegian vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 1,314 tons, and 79 foreign vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 6,241 tons, came in ballast.

The whole number of vessels cleared from the city of Bergen for foreign countries during the same period was 1,013, with an aggregate tonnage of 81,234 tons; of which number 659 was foreign and 344 Norwegian; of which 57 Norwegian, with an aggregate tonnage of 12,249 tons, and 41 foreign, with an aggregate tonnage of 7,295 tons, departed as ballast.

The imports of the city of Bergen, in kind and quantity, for the year ending September 30, 1863, were as follows:

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Exports from the city of Bergen for the same period.

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Table showing the average market prices of the city of Bergen during the year, for articles usually exported from the United States, and the import duty of such articles specified for the same quantity and price stated.

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There should be added 2 per cent. of the duty which is paid into the harbor fund for the building of a breakwater at the harbor of Bergen.

Table showing the wholesale prices of the principal articles exported from this city, and the export duty upon such articles specified for the same

quantity

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The shipping of the city of Bergen has, during the last year, been considerably enlarged by purchase, building,and rebuilding vessels, as follows: Number of vessels owned at the city of Bergen September 30, 1862, was 701; aggregate tonnage, 50,909 tons. Number of new ships built during the year, 9; aggregate tonnage, 3,060 tons. Number of ships purchased, 12; aggregate tonnage, 7,023 tons. Number of ships rebuilt, 3; aggregate tonnage, 1,188 tons. Making the total number of vessels, on the 30th day of September, 1863, to be 725, with the aggregate tonnage of 62,990 tons, navigated by 3,442 seamen.

I would invite the attention of American ships-owners to the fact that there is, on an average, thirty larger class vessels purchased for Norway from foreign Countries yearly, and that for good second and third rate vessels will generally be found good sale; and if the sale of a vessel to this country is desirable, the master should be clothed with sufficient power to sell, and can at any time obtain sure freights at Trapane or Lisbon for this city or Stavanger.

Emigration.-Emigration from this country to the United States has, since the breaking out of the rebellion, been on the decline; the whole number of emigrants embarked for the United States from this city during this fiscal year

was 418.

The whole number of emigrants embarked for the United States, from 1850 1860, from the south coast of Bergen, was, according to the census of Norway of 1860, sixty persons, and from the north Bergenhuus, the number during the aforesaid period was 2,192; from which it appears that from this district the emigration to the United States, of late years, has rather been on the increase. The emigration from this district for the year ending September 30, 1862, was 2,065 persons.

The establishment of industry of the city of Bergen is rather on a limited scale; manufactures of all kinds in operation at the present time are as follows, viz: Twenty-seven tanneries; six manufactories for malt, which together turn out 48.000 bushels of malt; three ship-yards; one manufactory of cotton goods of all kinds, (domestic,) one for woollen goods; three iron foundries; three chicory manufactories; six flouring mills; three manufactories of snuff, tobacco, and cigars; one glass factory; four large breweries, and thirty-one smaller; two vinegar factories; two sealingwax and ink factories; five printing establishments; four manufactories of musical instruments; one machine shop, with an excellent dry-dock. The cotton factory being one of the heaviest in the country, and to form an idea of the magnitude of that class of establishments, I would state that the capital invested is 200,000 speciedaler, propelled by hydraulic power and a small steam-engine, employs 160 men, uses twenty-two bales of India and five of American cotton weekly; it has been in active operation the whole year, although it turns out only about two-thirds of the quantity usual in ordinary times for cotton. The wool factory is propelled with hydraulic power, employs 170 men, capital invested, 100,000 speciedaler.

The city of Bergen has three banks, with united capital of 2,238,639 specidaler, and four insurance companies. The yearly tax levied in the city of Bergen averages 67,000 speciedaler.

For the purpose of forming an idea of the extent of commerce between the United States and Norway, I have arranged the following tables:

H. Ex. Doc. 41-21

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