THE DEMOGRAPHY OF TASMANIA. 



By L. F. GiBLiN. 



(Read 8th September, 1913.) 



Abstract 



The chief results of the Census of 1911 are now acces- 

 sible, and this circumstance^ naturally suggests a review 

 of Tasmanian demography. The returns, however, are 

 still incomplete, and all that is attempted in this paper is 

 to call attention to some of the more remarkable phen 

 nomena in Tasmanian population, leaving a fuller discus- 

 sion until all the data are available. 



Migration. 



The seasonal fluctuations in Tasmanian migration are 

 well known, but need emphasising as a warning against 

 comparing the population at different times unless both 

 estimates are for the same day of the year. By distribut- 

 ing the annual loss equally throughout the year, and 

 taking it away from the migration figures, we get the aver- 

 age quarterly fluctuation for the last ten years. 



Quarter ending Fluctuation. 



March 31st , -1,320 



June 30th -1,851 



Sept. 30th -2 



Dec. 31st +3,173 



The average annual loss since 1901 is 1,535, but 

 different years show very marked variations, of which it is 

 not easy to find an adequate explanation. The figures, 

 however, have been a good deal adjusted, and it is not yet 

 certain that they represent the facts exactly. 



Natttral Increase.^ 

 The Tasmanian figures are now ahead of those re- 

 corded for any country of the world, the average for the 

 last five years just beating the last available figures for 

 Bulgaria, which previously headed the list. There ai'e 



