DECEPTION IN THE LENGTH OF RIBBONS.
REPORT BY CONSUL GIFFORD, OF BASLE.

An association, said to embrace nearly if not quite all the Basle manufacturers of ribbons, has just resolved to refuse hereafter to cut their goods in lengths of less than nine meters. A uniform style of label or trade-mark has been adopted for the block on which the ribbons are rolled. The words "nine meters" are to be printed on this label, and each manufacturer has pledged himself not to depart from the rule.

This is a step toward correcting an abuse, not to use a stronger term, which, though not often resorted to as a means of defrauding the revenue, has been a serious offense against commercial morality. As is well known, ribbons placed on the market of the United States are supposed to be in pieces of 10 yards, and the labels generally indicate that such is the length. They sometimes even bear the printed words "Ten yards warranted." But very often the pieces lacked more than a foot, sometimes even 2 feet, of the pretended 10 yards. These goods were generally correctly invoiced at their real length in meters, no recent attempts having been made to defraud the revenue in this way. It was merely a device of importers and consignees to deceive purchasers at second hand and retail dealers. Manufacturers here were required by their customers to mark their ribbons in this way, and often did so, though no direct advantage accrued to them from their compliance. So the short length became a sort of convention, and so well known that only the most ingenuous dealers continue to suppose that "10 yards" means "10 yards."

The system adopted by the Basle manufacturers, if adhered to, will be such as to offer every satisfaction to their honor and to their conscience. The ribbons will contain 9 meters, and will be so marked and invoiced. But it must be remarked that, beyond all question, in the United States 9 meters will be taken by the retail trade as the equivalent of 10 yards, and the real deception of the public, though diminished and regularized, will still continue. If the exact equivalent of 10 yards-9.15 meters-had been adopted as the standard length, the new label would have satisfied completely all the requirements of commercial honesty. But the retail purchaser will now buy 30 feet of ribbon and receive only 29 feet.

I may add that purchasers of ribbons imported from France and Germany are subject to the same kind of deception.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

GEORGE GIFFORD,

Consul.

Basle, July 11, 1884.

AMERICAN VS. GERMAN PORK.

REPORT BY CONSUL FOX, OF BRUNSWICK.

I have the honor to transmit herewith an article, with translation, which I take from the Magdeburger Zeitung of May 1. The same is a communication from Professor Virchow to the Voss Zeitung in regard to American swine's meat.

WILLIAM C. FOX,

Consul.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

Brunswick, May 2, 1884.

[Translation.]

The North German Gazette reproaches me in its political columns of yesterday that "I tolerate it that the (Liberal) press ignores the work of the scientists in regard to the question of the importation of American swine's meat because party interests make it opportune to do so."

This is really a wanton deviation from the truth. I lately undertook the task of investigating exactly to what extent the importation of American swine's meat had caused trichiniasis in Germany. It proved that no trichiniasis epidemic with us had its origin in American importations; on the contrary, all statistics in regard to such sickness show it to have been limited to a few single cases in Bremen. The danger to the German people through the home-reared swine is really greater. Therefore, taking the view of the North German Gazette, that the danger of American importations is so great as to warrant their prohibition, as a logical consequence the rearing of swine in Germany should be entirely forbidden. I do not go as far as this; I am contented to have an obligatory inspection of swine. I demand this for the American importations, notwithstanding that the danger from them is much less. The North German Gazette will understand that my scientific premises are in full accord with the practical demands defended by the Liberal press, and that I have no reason to repudiate them.

AMERICAN PORK IN ITALY.

REPORT BY CONSUL CARROLL, OF PALERMO.

Believing it is not generally known that Italy prohibits the importation of American pork and ham, I have the honor to submit, for the information of the Department, that the minister of the interior at Rome issued the following order on the 20th of February, 1879:

The minister of the interior having seen the law on public health of the 20th March, 1865, alleged C, and the instructions of the 26th of December, 1871, and having learned of the arrival in the kingdom of damaged pork coming from Cincinuati and other places of the American Union, which shows the existence of trichina in the hogs, decrees that until a new disposition" the importation of hogs, their flesh and remainders, however preserved, into the kingdom is forbidden from the ports and grounds of the United States.

The prefects of the sea provinces are charged with the execution of this order.
Given at Rome the 28th of January, 1879.

In consonance with the above order the entry of American pork and ham is prohibited.

The importation of lard, however, is permitted. The effect of this prohibition, it appears, is to shut out a large market for American ham. It is believed that there is or would be as good a market in Italy for the production as could be found in Germany if prohibition did not also obtain in that country. Native ham, which is greatly inferior to the American article, is retailed in Palermo at 60 cents per pound. Hence none but those possessed of means are likely to indulge their tastes in this respect.

The importation of American ham would reduce the price more than one-half. Fresh pork retails at 20 cents per pound, and sausage at 37

cents.

In conclusion, it may be proper to add that whenever the people of Palermo can procure an American ham from a sea captain or others they do so, regardless of the alleged trichina, and that the only cases of trichinosis known on the island of Sicily resulted from eating domestic pork.

PHILIP CARROLL,

Consul.

Palermo, June 9, 1884.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

COMMERCE OF THE PROVINCE OF MANABI, ECUADOR.

REPORT BY CONSULAR AGENT GODDARD, OF BAHIA.

I have the honor, in compliance with requirements of the Department of State, to make the following report relating to the commerce of Manabi:

Bahia is situated in latitude 0° 35′ south and longitude 78° 03" west of Greenwich, and enjoys a mean temperature throughout the year of 72° F. It is the principal port for the province and will indubitably become in point of importance equal to that of Guayaquil in the event of the railroad being made to the capital of the Republic, Quito. It possesses many natural advantages not possessed by Guayaquil: (1) Its climate, which is an exceedingly healthy one; (2) its position on the sea-coast and with a remarkably fine harbor and every facility for the landing of cargo; (3) its proximity to the capital as compared with other vias, the distance being only 50 leagues against 80 leagues by the way of Guayaquil. The town contains at present but 500 inhabitants-with the exception of about 12 foreigners, all Ecuadorians.

COMMUNICATION.

Four steamers a month call at the port, two from the north and two from the south. There are no railroads and the only means of journeying is by steamer or horseback, no cartroads existing.

EXPORTS.

The principal articles of export are as follows: Cocoa, rubber, ivory nuts, and hides. The value of last year's exports being, coca, $228,799; rubber, $183,847; ivory nuts, $55,761, and hides, $13,907, United States gold.

IMPORTS.

Of the imports I am unable to furnish any reliable information, owing to the difficulty in obtaining the necessary data from the custom-house returns, the officials of the custom-house being changed so frequently from their posts that it is next to impossible to gather reliable information on this subject. The greater part of the goods used in this province are of American manufacture, or imitation of American manufactures, but seldom imported direct from the United States to this place, being generally sent, in the first place, to Guayaquil, where they are again resold to the merchants of this port and of the numerous small towns of the interior. The goods by the time they are landed on shore at this province generally cost the merchant for expenses in freight, landing, &c., about 8 per cent. on their cost at Guayaquil, so that provisions of all kinds not produced in the country are very expensive. The same may be said of all manufactured articles.

I am surprised that no American firms have thought of establishing at this port a depot for American products and manufactures. I am convinced that in this province of growing importance there exist splendid opportunities for American enterprise and industry.

RAILROAD TO QUITO.

This work has been going steadily forward since my report of D ber last. I understand from most reliable sources that the mule will be finished and traffic established by October or November of year. The Government issued a decree on the 12th of April, 18 which I give a translation herewith:

THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF ECUA.

Whereas a railroad that will unite the province of Manabi and Pichincha be of great national importance;

Be it decreed, the President is hereby authorized to employ $300,000 annual of the National Treasury for the construction of a railway from Manabi to This sum is independent of the amounts heretofore voted by this convention macadamized road.

Given in Quito, capital of the Republic, this 14th day of April, 1884.

FRANCISCO J. ZALAGAR,

President of the Convent JOSÉ M. P. CAAMANO, President of the Repu

This railroad, I believe, will never be completed by native e prise, and I have little doubt that an American company would with liberal railroad money and land grants at the hands of the ernment of Ecuador.

MANUFACTURES.

Rum is the only article that is made in this province, and that in sufficient quantity for local consumption.

Sugar will, doubtless, sooner or later, take a good place as one o principal articles of export. The Government has issued a decre which the former heavy duties on machinery and implements for us the sugar estates are removed, and now machinery for such uses is mitted free into the country. Peons, or laborers, engaged in st estates are exempted from military service. These concessions doubtless improve this industry. The cane in dry seasons yields a 13 per cent.

EXPORT DUTY.

The manner of buying merchandise for export is carried on in same manner as I have had the honor to advise in my former rep with the same attendant charges and commissions, with one except These duties have been nearly doubled, and on some articles more

RESTRICTION OF STEAM TONNAGE IN ENGLAND.

REPORT BY CONSUL LOCKE, OF NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

I have the honor to transmit herewith a special report of a meeting held in the Guildhall, in this city, on Wednesday, April 30, for the purpose of discussing the state of shipping, and, if possible, suggest remedy. The trade is in worse shape now than it has been for years. Rates are so low that vessels have been compelled to lay up or run at a loss. There are, at this writing, lying up for want of employment in the ports of the north of England, no less than one hundred and thirty-seven ocean-going steamships, of 150.000 gross tons, valued at £1,000,000, and employing eighteen hundred men when voyaging. During the month of April the increase of vessels lying up was thirteen.

It is now proposed, by the association formed on Wednesday, to still further retire steamship tonnage until there is an improvement both in the demand for capacity and its rates. It is a question whether this policy will bring any permanent relief. It would, of course, force rates up for the time being, but at the expiration of the four months matters would again be in the same state as at present. The fact is, there is too great a carrying capacity, and until such time as that capacity is permanently reduced, as it inevitably must be by wrecks, decay, and breaking up, the only course left owners to protect themselves is to reduce the working cost of their vessels.

That the average power of a steamer is great, even in these times, is shown by a vessel of 2,000 tons, which, in thirty-five days, earned £1,100. But when insurance claims £250 of that amount, port charges, fuel, loading, and discharging, £540 more, as was the case with the vessel referred to, it leaves but little for dividends after paying the crew, finding stores, &c. The enormous and, in many cases, unjustifiable, cost of working steamers has not received the attention it demands from owners, and until it does they may hope in vain for any profit in the shipping trade. The deplorable condition of the shipping trade already referred to in these reports has at last reached such a stage that steamship owners and managers have been compelled to make some determined effort to bring about a better state of affairs. With that aim in view a meeting was held in this city yesterday afternoon, a meeting whose actions will be eagerly watched by shipping interests all over the world. It was composed of over 150 prominent ship-owners and managers representing this entire district, Scotland and Southern England. It was convened by a circular sent to various representative steamship owners throughout the Kingdom, the circular stating that the following had been suggested as a basis for the consideration of the meeting:

1. That owners of steamships shall combine and agree to form an association in which all their vessels shall be entered.

2. That each owner with four or more vessels shall agree to withdraw from the market, and keep unemployed for a period of four months onefourth of the tonnage controlled by him.

3. That owners with a smaller number than four steamers shall withdraw and keep from employment their vessels for such corresponding period of time as the number of vessels may represent.

4. That the owners of vessels so laid up shall be paid the sum of 6d. per gross registered ton per month towards the unavoidable expense of lying up, such sum to be contributed pro rata by the steamers trading. 5. That owners joining the association and breaking their agreement to keep the agreed proportion of tonnage out of the market shall pay to the funds of the association a sum of not less than 2s. per gross registered ton per month on the defaulting vessel.