532 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Import duties on marine oils. — From tlie organization of the United 

 States Government to the present time foreign fish and whale oils have 

 been subject to duties when imported into this country, except as 

 affected by the reciprocity treaties of 1854 and 1873. The first duty 

 imposed (taking effect August 1, 1789) was 5 per cent ad valorem, and 

 this was increased in 1812 to 10 per cent. The customs law of 1816 

 imposed specific duties of 25 cents per gallon on sperm, and 15 cents 

 per gallon on all other whale or fish oils. These remained constant until 

 1846, when a return was made to ad valorem duties, 20 per cent being 

 imposed. A reduction of 5 per cent was made in 1857, but in 1861 a 

 return was made to 20 per cent, and this rate remained until 1883, when 

 it was increased 5 per cent. In 1800 specific duties were again imposed, 

 15 cents on cod-liver oil and 8 cents on seal, whale, herring, and other 

 fish oils; but in 1894 a return was made to ad valorem duties, 20 per 

 cent being imposed on cod-liver oil and 25 per cent on other fish oils. 



The following statement shows approximately the rates of duty 

 exacted in various foreign countries on marine oils imported therein. 



70. Statement of the approximate rates of duty imposed in various foreign countries on fish 

 and whale oils imported therein. 



Countries. 



Duty per 

 I lOOlbs. 



Europe : 



Belgium 



Deumark 



France 



Germany 



Great Britain 



Greece 



Italy : 



Sperm 



Fish and whale 



Netherlands 



Russia 



Spain 



Norway , 



Sweden 



Switzerland 



North America; 



Canada 



Mexico 



Central America: 



Costa Rica 



Guatemala : 

 Fish and whale. 



Cod-liver 



Nicaragua 



Salvador : 

 Fish and whale . 



Cod-liver 



Honduras 



British Honduras. 

 West Indies : 



Bahamas 



Cuba 



Free. 



$1.13 

 .53 

 .32 



Free. 

 3.52 



1.31 

 .52 

 .10 

 .65 

 .09 

 .48 

 Free. 

 .04 



20 per ct. 



ad val. 



2.40 



2.42 



2.20 

 4.41 



1.40 



1.76 



6.60 



.93 



.60 



2.43 

 2.19 



Countries. 



West Indies— continued. 



Guadaloupe 



Puerto Rico 



Santo Domingo — 



Sperm 



Fish 



South America: 

 Argentina: 



Fish and whale 



Cod liver 



Bolivia: 



Crude 



Refined 



Brazil : 



Crude 



Refined 



Cod liver 



Chile: 



Crude 



Refined 



Cod-liver 



Venezuela : 



Fish and whale 



Cod-liver 



Asia and Oceanica : 



China 



Japan 



New South Wales 



New Zealand 



Queensland and Victoria 



Tasmania 



West Australia. 



Duty per 



100 "lbs. 



$1.31 

 1.89 



1.58 

 1.27 



.14 

 2.19 



.80 

 1.32 



3.70 

 12.38 

 15.84 



1.35 

 2.27 

 7.20 



6.57 

 10.94 



5 perct. 



ad val. 



5 per ct. 



ad val. 



1.21 



Free. 



1.21 



3.03 



1.21 



