FOREIGN TRADE. 215 



with its four hundred million population suffers from a deficiency of timber, which it might 

 obtain with the greatest advantage for itself from Siberia; 



In the interior provinces of China, almost entirely bereft of forest vegetation, timber 

 is sold by weight and extremely dear, seeing that it has to be supplied from very remote 

 places, not seldom a thousand versts away, on the backs of camels. It is true that timber 

 might be furnished to China from Mantchuria, the northern portion of which is yet covered 

 with virgin forest, but it has been preserved there in such an inacessible situation, that the 

 export and carriage to the chief markets of consumption will be very expensive. On some of 

 the Japanese islands there is also still forest, but in Japan itself there always exists an 

 unfailing demand for that article. Under such circumstances advantage should be taken of 

 the forest wealth of the Amour and Littoral territories, and yet, although since 1863 there 

 have been not a few attempts of the kind, the enterprise has not been attended with success. 

 The timber was exported in the green state, simply hew7i w'ithout any shaping, in consequence 

 of W'hich its transport came very expensive. On the other hand the same article was received 

 by China from California in a perfectly dry and seasoned condition, sawn and cut up for 

 various purposes. Thanks to such foresight on the part of the American traders, they have 

 a predominating influence in the whole timber trade of China. 



In 1863 the first attempt was made to facilitate and regulate the export of timber 

 from the Littoral territory, but it ended in failure. In consequence of the placing of a duty 

 upon the goods destined for export the trade was unable to take root. 



Passing to the review- of the participation of the separate territories of Siberia in the 

 foreign trade, it may be noted that the most important part in this respect, as far as imports 

 are concerned, falls to the Transbaikal territory, thanks to its direct relations with China via 

 Irkutsk and Kiakhta. Besides the last point the foreign trade of the Transbaikal territory is 

 carried on further via the following centres: Tsurukhaitui, Abagoitui, Tsagan-Olui, and the 

 station of Verkhneulkhunsk, through which in 1889 there were exported into Mongolia ani- 

 mals, animal produce, manufactured goods et cetera, to the amount of 112,849 roubles, while 

 In 1890 the export fell to 69,851 roubles. Through the same centres there were imported 

 from Mongolia various animal produce, animals and tea, in 1889 to the amount of 93,403 

 roubles, and in 1890 to that of 90,112 roubles. 



The Siberian ports of the Arctic Ocean in reference to the importation of foreign goods 

 are on the whole brought under the Customs tariff for the European frontier. But in view of 

 the special peculiar local circumstances not unfrequently duty free importation of foreign 

 goods is authorized by a special Imperial order. And yet the northern shores of Siberia are 

 rarely visited by foreigners. The most important place of importation is the mouth of 

 the Yenisei, whither in 1890 came the steamers of the Anglo-Siberian Company. These steam- 

 ers were loaded with 24,108 roubles worth of provisions, 130,076 roubles worth of raw and 

 half-manufactured materials, and 214,000 roubles worth of manufactured goods. The flotilla 

 ascended the Yenisei, and their freights reached the towns of Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and Tomsk. 

 Although these goods were freed from Customs duties, and the same privilege was even extended 

 to the navigation season of 1894 inclusive, neither in 1891 nor in 1892 was there any impor- 

 tation by this route. The English steamers on their return cruise took on board grain and meat. 



