Tae Castoms Gazette for the second quarter of 1870, reaches us nearly a month later than it did las year—owing perhaps to its greater bulk. We doubt, however, whether those to whom it is most usefal would not prefer an earlier copy, even at the cost of more condensed information. In the case of the annual reports, a little delay is compensated for by volume ly the case with statistics, which need to be early to be valuable. As-it is, however, we have a most usefal volume of trade returns, varied by interesting notes.
Beginning with the most northern port, we find a startling decrease from the corresponding quarters of both 1868 and 1869, in almost every description of import, Grey Shirtings figure only for 8,000 pieces, against 3,000 pieces in 1869, and 60,000 pieces in 1868. T-cloths for 19,000 pieces, against 28,000 and 56,000. Woollens for 7,000 pieces, against 12,000 and 26,000. Metals and sugar also show a considerable falling off, and even opium isles by 100 peculs than in the corresponding three months of 1869; but as the first quarter showed an excess of 200 pecals, the decline, here, is only apparent. Mr. Luson accounts for the depression by the scarcity of Sycee, caused by excess sive export in previous years, and by the distress resulting from the failure of the autumn crops. The export of pulse cake and oil corresponds very nearly with '69, but that of pulse sil has increased ten-fold, from 9,000 to 90,000 peculs—an increase which is entirely accounted for by the trade that has sprang up with Japan. The new inlet, however, seems to have been completely flooded, and the results have been unsatisfactory to' shippers. At present, Messrs. Jardine Matha: son's steam pulse mill, and several native mills are stopped, owing to the high price of pulse; it is believed that the machinery of the former is to be taken down altogether, before the winter comes on.
The Tientsin retains falling off in most port,- except Grey Shirtings. "These have risen from 157,000 to 190,000 pieces, and showed a large increase also during the first quarter; but White Shirtings have declined from 107,000 to 61,000, and T.-Cloths from also shown a alight decrease on the 358,000 to 211,000 pieces—each having first quarter. Drills and Sheetings have also fallen off; Jeans and Uhintzes Woollens have fallen off 26,000 pieces, exactly one half, but the first gpartershowedan excess of 6,000 pieces.
)pium shows an increase, on both quarters. The revenue shows a decrease on every branch except opi total loss of Tis, 5,000, despite.an increase of Tis, 31,000 in this' drug, Three ships direct from England arrived during the quarter.
At Chefoo again, we find a falling' off in most kinds of imports, after had to. nota 'a similar decline first quarter of the year. Grey' Shit ings are less by 35,000 pieces, makin, a total decline on the six months of 133,000 pieces, or about. one half. T.-Cloths also show a falling off. of, pieces, besides 6,000 pieces in' the quarter. Woollens have also declined, on both quarters. Iron has lost 7,000 pecals on the half year. The import of opium has been less this quarter, but it was larger in the first, and shows a gain on the half year." THe partof pulse and polio oil shows, large increase both on the quarter and the half year, ug ath Coming now to Shanghai, we find an increase of 95,000 pieces Grey Shirtings, and 205,000 pieces of T.-Cloths. over the corresponding quarter of °69,- but there bad been a decrease of 1,150,000 pieces of the former, and 100,000 piscos of the latter, on the first three months, Jeans, on the other hand, show an iris mense increase, on both quarters, tore than trebling the import for the first half of 1869. There is a falling off. of 13,000 piecosin English Drills, but th had been an increase of80,000onthe pre: vious quarter. Americans, on the other hand, have decreased 50 per cent on thy half. Camlets show a falling off of 8,000 pieces, but there had been an increase of 6000 on the first quarter; Long Ells show an increase of 24,000 pieces on the first, and 20,000 on the second, quartes The increase in Lustres is equally 14,000 on the first and 27,000 on second quarter. Spanish Stripes obs hold their own; the import of Cloth has nearly doubled. slight improvement in the first. ter, has fallen off 30,000 pecal: the second. And Lead, after a very. large increase, shows a decline whic leaves 8,000 peculs as the half-year's
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.