SPECIAL CONSULAR REPORTS 



COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



CONTINENT OF AFRICA. 



BRITISH AFRICA. 

 CAPE COLONY. 



REPORT BY CONSUL HOLLIS. 



Having given much time and attention to this subject, as directed in 

 the circular of the Department of May 27, 1 regret exceedingly that the 

 report submitted is so unsatisfactory. 



QUANTITY AND KIND IMPORTED PER ANNUM. 



During the year 1888 there was imported into this colony cotton text- 

 iles to the value of 543,888 ($2,647,000), distributed as follows : 



Blankets 75,500 



Piece goods 368,088 



Hosiery 100,300 



WEIGHT PER YARD. 



To this question I am unable to give any satisfactory reply, for the 

 reason that no weight is shown or indicated upon the cotton goods im- 

 ported from the United Kingdom, and therefore to determine the weight 

 it would be necessary to weigh each bale of the various kinds and qual- 

 ities and thus calculate the weight per yard, a procedure manifestly out 

 of the question. Importers informed me that they paid no attention to 

 the weight, as that could be much affected by sizing, and their opinions 

 of the value of goods was based entirely on the evidence of examina- 

 tion. 



HOW PURCHASED. 



Goods are purchased almost entirely through commission houses 

 either after an inspection of samples, or, more generally, by ordering 

 well known goods, such as had been previously furnished. 



