Tas Returns of trade at the northern ports, with the exception of Newchwang, show a serious decline in imports-—Newehwang took 93,000 pieces of Grey Shirtings, against 55,000 in the corresponding quarter of 1875, and 166,000 pieces of 'I'-Cloths, which is nearly double the aggregate import of the corresponding terms in the three preceding years. The import of Opium was also double, and that of Iron slightly larger. Woollens show a small decrease. The Revenue varied only Tls. 500.—But the Tientsin returns show a decrease, which is the more noteworthy because it has been continuous forthreeyears. The figures are 1874. 1875. 1876. Grey Shirtings...593,999 478,398 272,355 T-Cloths 279,881 217,389 176,47 And in connexion with this fact it is remarkable that no internal transit passes were taken out. Woollens show no material variation, except Lustres, of which only 5,324 pieces were imported, and a similar falling off was noticed in the previous quarter, in respect both of these goods and of Shirtings. No doubt the disturbed state of the North-west, and the sufferings of Pebehili from flood and drought, have had much to do with the decrease; but the fact is serious. The revenue, too, has shown a steady decline over the same period, and a like decrease was noticeable in the previous quarter.—Chefoo is in a scarcely better position. A decline is to be noted in the import of Shirtings, both in this and the previous quarter; the figures for July-September being only 62,279 against 103,979 pieces in the same term of 1875. T-Cloths, too, figure for only 41,000 pieces, against 70,000. Lnstres appear to, have collapsed, only 2,255 pieces in the April-June quarter, against 4,927 and 11,407 respectively in the corresponding terms of 1875. The revenue also shews a continuous decline.
Hankow, notwithstanding the stagnation of which its market reports have complained, shows an increase in both this and the last quarter over 1875, in respect of both Shirtings and T-Cloths. The figures are 1874. 1875. 1876. Grey Shirtings...211,000 299,000 306,000 'T-Cloths 000 121,000 129,000
There is also'a steady increase in the quantity of goods sent inland under pass. Woollens only varied 3,000 pieces in the aggregate, in the present quarter, though there is a falling off of 10,000 pieces in Lustres, nearly compen. sated by an increase in Cloths, Long Ells, and Spanish Stripes. The revenue shows an increase of over Tls. 100,000.—At Kiukiang there is no great variation to be noted. The import of Shirtings was nearly equal in both quarters, That of T-Cloths showed a decline in the second and a slight increase in the third. Woollens are equally steady. The revenue shows slight increase—The returns for Chinkeang are again very uni factory, showing a continuous decline over three years in both Shirtings and 'P-Cloths, with the exception of a slight covery in the former in April-June of the current year, which is more than counterbalanced by the decline in the present term, The figures for the present quarter a:
1874. Grey Si 189,000 T-Cloths 75,000
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.