92 



.MANUFACTURES OF RUSSIA. 



import, or 10 per cent of the home production. The greater part of the dressed hides 

 nre supplied by Germany, about 60 per cent, and Great Britain, about 30 per cent, 

 whilst Austro-Hnngary and France send small quantities. The chief items of this import 

 aie small and large hides, varnished leather and belting. 



The import of varnished leather from 1887 to 1890 only experienced very 

 slight fluctuations and kept very near the average of 2,192,000 roubles. The import 

 of belting during the same period averaged about 980,000 roubles; it fell to its lowest 

 point of 895.586 roubles in 1888, and reached the maximum figure of 1,145,985 

 roubles in 1884. and in 1885 fell to 927,019 roubles. The import of furs varied on 

 the average between 4.250.000 to 8.500,000 roubles, the principal kinds being sable, 

 black fox and muskrat, other kinds being but very little imported. The import of 

 wrought leather is small and consists of boots and shoes, gloves, saddlery and harness. 



Leather Export Trade. 



The export of leathern goods may be classed under the same four heads : a. raw 

 hides, b. dressed hides, c. furs, d. wrought leather goods. The amounts during the 

 period from 1884 to 1890 are given in the following table. 



Generally speaking the import exceeds the export. In 1884 the export amounted 

 almost to 10,000,000 roubles ; in the following year it decreased, and in 1886 rose 

 to 12,500,000, and finally, excepting some slight fluctuations, kept fairly steady at the 

 average of 12,500,000 roubles up to 1890. 



The principal item of export was raw hides which, in 1884 and 1885, amounted 

 to about 4 million roubles and from 1886 to 1890 averaged 5 millions. The next im- 

 portant item is furs, the mean export of which was 4,500,000 roubles, but varying 

 greatly each year. The next two items averaged 1,300,000 roubles and 700,000 

 roubles respectively. 



The export of raw hides through the European frontier during the decade 

 ending 1879 averaged 234,553 ponds per annum, from 1880 to 1883 it rose to 

 388,421 ponds, then fluctuated considerably from 1883 to 1886, the mean yearly 



