156 



" The following table shows the expansion of the trade in recent years, the 

 quantities being cubic feet : 



" A 11 the timber-producing countries of Europe have participated in furnish- 

 ing these immense supplies of wood ; but the most notable increase apparent, 

 during the past few years, has taken place in the quantities of pitch-pine 

 imported from the Southern States. A few years back the demand for this wood 

 in England was limited, being used only for a few special purposes. Immense 

 quantities have been shipped to Europe during the last few years, and, having 

 been sent on speculation, it was sold frequently at very low prices, in some cases 

 at rates that did not cover the freight and expenses, hence it has been intro- 

 duced into many districts where it was formerly unknown, and competes with 

 the lower grades of Canadian pine, but more particularly with the red pine. 



" Sweden and Norway supplied the United Kingdom with from 4,000,000 to 

 6,000,000 cubic feet of hewn wood during the last few years more than Canada. 

 " But a very large proportion of the goods under this heading consists of pit- 

 props, and spars, and other small wood of little value. In the matter of sawn 

 wood, these countries furnish Great Britain with some twenty or twenty-five 

 million cubic feet more than the Dominion. The best Swedish deals do not compete 

 with the best quality of Canadian pine, but find a readier sale than the second 

 and third qualities of the latter. 



" This trade must be of great value to the shipping interests of Canada and 

 Great Britain, but I have no means of ascertaining the exact number and tonnage 



