JAMAICA 2 1 5 



with a few pigs and chickens, furnish an ample livelihood. 

 The agricultural prosperity of Jamaica is handicapped, 

 however, by the fact that the export products are so 

 largely taxed by the protective duties of the United States, 

 which is the nearest and most natural market. 



The imports in 1895-96 were valued at $13,722,500, and 

 the exports at $8,900,000. Great Britain supplies about 48.1 

 per cent, of the imports ; Canada and other British posses- 

 sions, 7.5 per cent. ; the United States, 41.8 per cent. ; and 

 other countries, 2.6 per cent. Of the exports the United 

 Kingdom consumes 27.6 per cent., and the United States 

 57 per cent. It will thus be noticed that the trade with 

 the United States is of greater bulk and importance than 

 that with Great Britain; indeed, more, perhaps, than is 

 represented by the figures, for while the United States 

 offers a better market for sugar and takes nearly the 

 whole of the fruit, the colony is dependent upon this 

 country for a large portion of its staple food-supplies. 



The principal items of island export are sugar, $928,62.") ; 

 rum, $872,850 ; and coffee, $1,720,000 ; fruit exported to the 

 United States, $2,421,116 ; minor items, including ginger, 

 $2,500,000. For a country with such a large population 

 and so full of agricultural resources as Jamaica, the small 

 export value seems remarkable. Among the smaller ex- 

 ports were included tobacco, cigars, and horses, but no 

 cattle. Sugar is a decreasing industry on the island, and 

 coffee-culture does not appear to be extending. Fruit 

 exportation has made great strides in recent years and is 

 likely to grow in value. 



Notwithstanding its natural beauty, fertility, and su- 

 perior governmental organization, Jamaica is suffering 

 from financial depression. There are several causes for 

 this condition. The first of these is the fact that notwith- 

 standing the loyalty of the people to the institutions and 

 government, which lie them to England, their trade and 

 commercial interests are with the United States, which 

 country, through its tariff laws, renders it impossible for 



