COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 17 



BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



REPORT OF CONSUL STETEXS, OF VICTORIA. 



GENERAL TRADE OF THE PROVINCE. 



In replying, under instructions conveyed in circular of May 27, 1889, 

 concerning importation, into tbis consular district, of cotton textiles, 

 it is proper in explanation of the meager matter set forth that I should 

 give a brief description of the business of this place and the commercial 

 scope of the consulate. 



This town, situated on the southern extremity of the island of Van- 

 couver, is the principal port of entry, and mainly the distributing point 

 of the province. The town of Vancouver, on the mainland, at the ter- 

 minus of the Canadian Pacific Kail way, which has been built within the 

 last three years, consequent upon the completion of the railway, and is 

 now nearly as populous as this, and fast increasing, of late somewhat 

 divides the business. 



Neither of these towns has cotton manufactories. The general mer- 

 chandising business of this town is not systemized. Besides the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company's store, in which almost everything can be pur- 

 chased, there are some seven other principal firms carrying on business 

 in the same manner, and combining a shipping business. These two 

 towns, Victoria and Vancouver, are the principal towns of the province. 

 Nanaimo is not much more than a coal port, and New Westminster, on 

 the Fraser River, is as yet comparatively unimportant ; the interior 

 towns are unimportant and remote. 



During the last fiscal year ten vessels, bringing a total of 11,812 tons 

 of freight, arrived in this port from the United Kingdom. A consider- 

 able portion of this was assorted merchandise from London and Liver- 

 pool, and a part of it naval stores for the station at Esquimalt. 



Add to this constant arrivals by regular packets, from San Francisco 

 principally, from the ports on Puget Sound and other ports, and the 

 total imports cf last year were $2,922,395 in value, upon which $748,- 

 613.98 duty was paid. 



A certain quantity of such goods, of which no record is obtainable, 

 may be received at a town, small and remote, along and near the line of 

 the railway which spans the width of the province, as well as at the ter- 

 minal town of Vancouver. 

 608A 2 



