556 



FIBRES 



the past fifteen years in any one year was 3,105*3 metric 

 tons in 1900. The export last year (1913) amounted to 

 2,912*7 metric tons. The average yearly export for the 

 five-year period 1899-1903 was 2,052*3 'metric tons; for 

 the period 1904-08, 2,1 13*1 metric tons; and for 1909-13, 

 2, 238' i metric tons. The exports during the past five 

 years have been more regular than during former periods. 

 There are reasons to suppose, however, that after the 

 activity of 1913 (resulting in the export of nearly 700 tons 

 above the average for the last five-year period), coupled 

 with the fact that flowering took place very freely 

 throughout the whole Colony after the somewhat ex- 

 tended dry period, August to December, 1913, there may 

 be recorded in the exports for the next year or so a 

 reduction of output. 



The value of the fibre crop in Mauritius averaged 

 during the 1899-1903 period 44,884 yearly; during the 

 1904-08 period it was 47,192; and in 1909-13 the yearly 

 average value was 43,843. The local price for fibre has 

 ruled more steady during the past five years, but has 

 been lower than the average price of the previous ten 

 years; it has approximated to 20 per metric ton. The 

 charges for freight, etc., to London may be estimated 

 at 6 8s. per ton. 



The quantity and value of the exports during the past 

 fifteen years are shown in the following table : 



Year 



Quantity. 

 Metric tons 



2052-3 



-2113-] 



2238-1 



Average 2134-4 



