188 REPORT— 1905. 
The subject-matter is presented under the following heads :— 
. Definition of International Trade. 
. Estimation of Values of Imports and Exports. 
Determination of the Country of Origin and of Destination. 
Classification of Articles of Import and Export. 
Recent Changes affecting Import and Export Statistics. 
Comparability and Accuracy. 
. Suggestions as to Reform. 
Dbl et OO ty > 
A. Definition of International Trade. 
Owing to the more explicit statements which now preface colonial 
reports and tables, errors are less likely to be made now than formerly as 
tu what is included in the returns of imports and exports. 
(1) It is usual in the colonial returns of imports and exports to 
include all articles which are landed, even though only for transit pur- 
poses, but to exclude such articles as are transhipped but not landed. 
It is deserving of note, however, that in the case of Canada, as stated in 
a memorandum received by the Committee from the Minister of Customs, 
Ottawa, the transit trade is not included in either the import or export 
statements, and, in fact, is not compiled for publication, except in so far 
as the port of Montreal is concerned. This trade for the port of 
Montreal during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1903, was $11,689,912. 
In it are included articles intended for other countries which pass 
through Canada in the course of their transportation, but which have not 
been purchased or sold in Canada and are not intended for use in Canada. 
In the case of Trinidad, on the other hand, where, comparatively speak- 
ing, there is a considerable transhipment trade from the Port of Spain to 
the Orinoco, such trade is included in the exports of Trinidad, but the 
fact is clearly stated in the Customs returns of the colony. 
(2) The practice as to the inclusion or exclusion of bullion and specie 
varies in the statistical returns of the several colonies, but explicit state- 
ments are made on the subject, which should prevent error. In the 
Australian statistics bullion and specie are not separated, as in the 
import and export returns of the United Kingdom. It is considered that 
bullion in the case of Australia is as purely commercial an export as wool, 
and likewise the common practice of converting bullion into specie for 
commercial convenience justifies the classification of specie no less than 
bullion with other articles of merchandise. On the other hand, in the 
statistics of Cape Colony bullion is included among the articles of 
merchandise, but specie is treated separately. Similarly, in the Canadian 
statistics gold is classified with other merchandise, but coin is shown 
separately. In the Indian statistics, treasure, which includes gold and 
silver, bullion and specie, is distinguished from merchandise. Owing to 
the varying practice thus existing, care is necessary in comparing totals. 
It should be further noted that in some cases coal, as well as bullion and 
specie, is excluded from the articles of merchandise. Thus in his report 
the Collector-General of Customs in Jamaica gives the total of imports 
and exports, excluding coal, bullion, and specie ; whereas in the report 
of the Collector of Customs in Trinidad no such distinction is observed. 
(3) It is noteworthy that, before the formation of the Australian 
Commonwealth, imports and exports into any Australian State from a 
border State—for example, to Victoria from New South Wales—-were 
