VEGETABLE AND IMITATION 291 



in many ways a very poor substitute. Nevertheless, where 

 merely a general superficial effect is desired, there is a de- 

 mand for it on account of its cheapness. 



A marked increase in the imports of celluloid is indicated 

 by the customs returns for the fiscal years 1913 and 1914, 

 as given below: 



1913 1914 



POUNDS VALUE POUNDS VALUE 



In blocks, sheets, rods, tubes, 

 or other forms, not polished, 

 and not made up into fin- 

 ished or partly finished ar- 

 ticles 22,305 $18,838 $59,270 



Polished wholly or in part, or 

 in finished or partly finished 

 articles 125,006 267,502 521,175 



Thus the imports of polished and finished collodion were 

 nearly twice as much in the fiscal year 1914 as in that of 

 1913, and the unpolished material showed an increase of 

 more than 200 per cent. Owing to the application for a 

 great part of 1913-1914 of an ad valorem instead of a 

 specific duty under the provisions of the new tariff, the 

 total weight for 1913-1914 is not ascertainable. 



