328 THE president's address. 



I will now sh.ow you the production of Copper for tlie last 

 three years, with the prices, produce, and standard. 



In 1874, copper ore sold in Cornwall was 48,729 tons, i^roducing 

 3517 tons of fine copper, of the value of £228,298. 



In 1876, copper ore sold was 42,603 tons, or 6126 tons less, 

 producing 3006 tons of fine copper, or 511 tons less, of the value 

 of £200,158, or £20,140 less. 



In 1874 the average price of copper ore was £4 5s. per ton, 

 produce 7^, and the standard £97 16s., while in 1876 the average 

 price of copper ore was £4 l7s. or 12 p.c. more, producing 6^, 

 and the standard £113 8s., or £15 12s. more. 



Although the average price of copper ore was greater, and the 

 standard considerably higher than in 1874, yet the advantage 

 thus gained was nullified by the enormous falling off in the 

 QUANTITY of coppor Ore which was sold. 



The production of Iron ore for the last 3 years is as follows : 



In 1874, 45,055 tons, of the vakie £34,076. 



In 1876, 18,703 tons, or 26,358^^ tons less, the value of which 

 is not yet known, but in 1875 there was a falling off in value of 

 £27,175. 



Of Lead ore, was raised in 1873, 3909 tons, producing lead, 

 2923 tons ; in 1876, 2808 tons, or 1101 tons less; the produce of 

 the lead ore of 1876 is not yet known. 



Of Zinc ore, and Manganese, Arsenic and other minerals, the 

 returns of the quantities for 1876 are not yet reliable. 



China Clay. 



Although I have no very accurate returns of the china clay 

 produce for 1876, it is believed that it is not more than the 

 quantity returned for 1875, which shewed a falling off from the 

 1874 returns of about 50,000 tons. 



The facts above given must of course cause great anxiety to 

 the mining interests of Cornwall, and many persons take, per- 

 haps, a too gloomy view of mining prospects in the future. But 

 I clesire to allude to a point to which the attention of the mining 

 interests of Cornwall has been caUed, at a meeting held towards 

 the end of April last, by the Mining Institute of Cornwall, viz., 

 the necessity for greater economy in the dressing of tin. The 

 waste which has taken place from neglecting economy in this 

 respect in former times has been enormous, and is at present very 



