COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



the several ports along the sea-board thus distributing the cargoes dis- 

 charged at Hong-Kong and Shanghai. The returns made by the cus- 

 tom-house officials of imports received at Hong-Kong and Shanghai 

 should show from what countries the goods received at these points 

 were imported, whereas at other points all imports received through 

 these two places are tabulated under Hong-Kong and Shanghai re- 

 spectively. This statement is made to show that there is no way of 

 ;isrt'i'tainiiig here the place of manufacture of the goods received here 

 i through Hong-Kong or Shanghai. 



FOO-CHOW IMPORTS. 



The importation of cotton textiles for the year 1888 shows an increase 

 over the preceding year. 



The total importation of cotton goods of all kinds in 1887 amounted 

 i to 762,046 taels ; in 1888 the imports amount to 783,792 taels, showing 

 a net increase of 21,746 taels. The cotton productions of America 

 i show an appreciable gain over the preceding year. 



The value of American drills imported in 1887 amounts to 13,313 

 taels. In 1888 the returns show their value to be 15,330 taels. There 

 is quite an increase in the imports of English drills. Iii 1887 the fig- 

 ures were 927 taels, while for this year they are 3,226 taels. 



Coit-jns imported into Foochow in 1888. 



IMPORTS PROM THE UNITED STATES. 



There are no means of ascertaining the kind and quality of goods 

 imported at this port. There are two large American houses engaged 

 in trade here, but, strange to say, most of the goods sold are pur- 

 chased from London instead of from American cities. Various explana- 

 tions are given for this, but the most convincing is that goods can be 

 laid down here at less cost from London than from the United States 

 cities. Trade is rarely governed by patriotic principles ; profit is its 

 guiding star. 



