Commerce. — The commerce in rubbers, which may be said to be a growth
of the last 23 years, has now attained great importance. Our imports of India-
rubber (termed "caoutchouc" in the Returns) were 158,692 cwt., value 1,536,660/.,
in 1876; 159,723 cwt, 1,484,794/., in 1877; 149,724 cwt,, 1,313,209/., in 1878;
150,601 cwt., 1,626,290/., in 1879; 169,587 cwt, 2,387,947i., in 1880. The imports
of 1880 were contributed as follows: -Brazil, 76,460 cwt., 1,297,373/; W. Coast
Africa, foreign, 22,922 cwt., 276,741/; Straits Settlements, 11,582 cwt., 114,989/. ;
Bengal and Burma, 10,264 cwt., 114,4162.; E. Coast Africa, 9,382 cwt., 129,886/;
W. Coast, Africa, British, 7,271 cwt, 86,669Z.; Aden, 6,720 cwt, 84,780/ ; British
S. Africa, 4,620 cwt., 42,6532.; Portugal, 3,871 cwt, 55,804;.; United States,
3,799 cwt., 48,0392.; Central America, 2,440 cwt., 29,0052.; Holland, 1,576 cwt,
17,269/; Mauritius, 1,550 cwt, 19,927/.; New Granada, (Colombia), 1,024 cwt.,
12,165/.; other countries, 6,100 cwt, 58,251/.; total, 169,587 cwt., 2,387,947/.
Our exports in 1880 were as follows --United States, 21,941 cwt., 282,894/;
Germany, 18,921 cwt., 269,086/. ; Russia, 16,189 cwt., 261,252/ ; France, 9,920 cwt,,
112,597/; Holland, 7,182 cwt., 1010682.; other countries, 2,579 cwt., 30,8782.;
total, 76,732 cwt., 1,063,7752.
A review of the fluctuations in the supplies during the past 5 years shows
the following facts. Holland sent us 2,651 cwt. in 1876, 1,059 in 1878, and
1,576 in 1880. Portugal : 3,329 in 1877, 2,285 in 1879, 3,871 in 1880. Portuguese.
