808 REPORT—1904. 
D. Changes in A, B, and C in recent years. 
United Kingdom.—Value of ships and boats (new), with their 
machinery, has been included among the value of exports of home pro- 
duce in 1899 and subsequent years. Changes were made in systems of 
valuation and tabulation in 1854 and 1870. 
United States.—Since 1898 the statistics given in the British Statis- 
tical Abstract for Foreign Countries are sometimes for the year ending 
June 30 and sometimes for the calendar year.' Great care must be 
exercised to know which is quoted in particular lists. Porto Rico and 
Hawaii have been regarded as part of U.S.A. in trade statistics since 
July 1, 1900. The Philippines are still treated as foreign. 
From 1866 to 1883 the values of imports included their whole cost up 
to their arrival in U.S.A., together with a commission of at least 24 per 
cent. From July 1, 1883, the values were taken as those at the place of 
manufacture before being packed ; since August 1, 1890, the value has 
been taken of the goods packed and delivered at the port ready for ship- 
ment, but no sea freight is included. 
France.—There have been no changes of importance since 1847, except 
that the registration of goods, according to origin and destination, has 
been improving since 1870. Before 1895, provisions taken on board ships 
for use in the voyage were regarded as exports to the countries for which the 
ships were bound ; they are now entered separately as ‘ Provisions de bord.’ 
Austria.—In 1885 goods were credited to the adjacent country, over 
whose frontier they passed ; in 1895 the real origin and destination were 
entered. The date of the change appears to have been 1890, when the 
trade returns were reformed. 
Belgium.—tThe value of rough diamonds imported, and cut diamonds 
exported, has been included only since 1897. Revised instructions as to 
registration of origin and destination were issued in 1882 and 1897, but 
these made no change in principle. 
The Committee know of no changes in the methods of dealing with 
trade statistics of Holland or Russia. 
Germany.—Changes have been so frequent and so complicated, that it 
is a matter of the greatest difficulty to compare year with year. In 1879 
the whole system of the trade statistics was transformed, and comparisons 
hetween years before and after that date are practically impossible.” 
Before 1884 ‘a large class of imports and exports were specifically 
excluded, namely, all articles imported free of duty for working up and 
for exportation in a more finished condition (improvement trade).’3 For 
some time after 1884 separate totals were given for ‘special trade,’ 
including and excluding improvement trade, while the ‘ general trade’ 
totals included it. Since 1897 only the inclusive total has been published. 
Great care must therefore be exercised before using these totals in 
deciding how this trade is treated.4 
1 Compare the 28th and 29th numbers. 
2? See ‘Waarenverkehr des Deutschen Zollgebiets mit dem Auslande im Jahre 
1880,’ I. Theil,.and the translation in C. 8211, p. 70. , 
3 Quoted from C. 5597, which contains a translation of the regulations for col- 
lecting and tabulating German statistics (with definitions of special trade, &c.), 
which have been for the most part in force from 1880 till the present date. 
* See Cd. 1199, p. 10 note, and No. 131 of 1904, p. 3 and p. 8 note, for the corrections 
necessary since 1897. 
