408 PAPER IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



During the year 1898, there were imported almost exclusively 

 from Germany match papers valued at $87,596; glazed fancy 

 paper, at $96,639; and packing paper, at $115, 399. 



Pulp imports show an increase in values from $17,750 in 1896 to 

 $31,893 in 1897 and to $111,799 in 1898. In the last-named figures, 

 Germany participated to the extent of $52,468; Sweden and Nor- 

 way, $35,095; and the United States, $15,499. The importation of 

 this article must steadily increase, owing to the growing scarcity 

 of timber in Japan. 



The present Japanese import tariff is as follows: 



Albums, blank books, and printed forms, 15 percent ad valorem. 



Chinese paper and hanging paper, 15 per cent ad valorem. 



Printing paper, not exceeding 24 pounds per ream of 500 sheets 

 and measuring not less than 1,086 square inches per sheet, 80 sen 

 per 100 kin. (39.84 cents per 132.51 pounds). 



Other printing paper, i. 163 yen per 100 kin (57.9 cents per 132.51 

 pounds). 



All other kinds of paper, 10 per cent ad valorem. 



Strawboard, 15 per cent ad valorem. 



EXPORTS. 



"Gampie" (tissue or stenciling paper) was exported in 1898 to 

 the value of $138,924, of which $68,659 worth went to the United 

 States and $43,054 to Great Britain. 



"Usuyo" (copying paper) was exported to the value of $58,197, 

 of which $29,659 worth went to the United States and $14,710 to 

 Great Britain. 



Wall paper was exported to the value of $92,103, nearly all going 

 to Great Britain. 



Paper napkins were exported to the value of $59,917, nearly all 

 to the United States. 



Paper lanterns were exported to the value of $46,029, of which 

 $26,168 worth went to the United States. 



Fans to the value of $249,616 were exported, the share of the 

 United States being $104,235, that of Hongkong and China $76,109, 

 and that of France $25,889. 



Miscellaneous manufactures of paper were exported to the value 

 of $126,111. 



Rags were exported almost exclusively to the United States 

 to the value of $103,757. 



PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. 



I am informed that the factories now in operation in Japan pro- 

 duce annually about 40,000,000 pounds of printing and book papers, 

 of which some 20,000,000 pounds are the output of the Fuji Paper 



