20 MR. THOMAS WARD ON THE 



increase was not large ; but as soon as the alkali-trade 

 began to extend, the manufacture of salt increased, and in 

 1870 we find 991,158 tons sent down the Weaver, which 

 reached 1,087,214 in 1880. It will be seen from these 

 figures how rapidly the salt-trade has increased in the last 

 half century. As the Weaver is only one line of commu- 

 nication (though the chief one) by which Cheshire salt 

 leaves the country, there being canals and railways taking 

 large quantities, the figures above given do not show all 

 the trade. The following table of salt exported from the 

 Mersey ports (viz. Liverpool, Runcorn, and Weston 

 Point), which I have compiled from the official statistics 

 supplied to me for the ten years ending December 31st, 

 1880, will show the countries taking Cheshire salt, and the 

 quantities supplied to each : — 



Countries. White salt. Rock salt. 



tons. tons. 



United States (North and South) 2,118,656$ 18,827 



British North America 691,186^ 3 1 >354f 



West Indies and Central America 40,003^ 757-5- 



South America 34,640 *,258f 



Africa 246,429 746I 



East Indies 2,552,856^ 155 



Australia and New Zealand I 39,5 I °i 26,943 



Germany 345,229 1,026 



Russia 581,501! 23,697 



Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland . 197,299^ 39,636 



Belgium and Holland 81,633 6 44>47! 



France and South of Europe I 7,699 943^ 



England 840,285 «35»37" 



Ireland 469,310 64,155 



Scotland ,. 711,229$ 19,631 



Total 9,067,468 1,009, 973^ 



This table is a very interesting one; but I must not dis- 

 cuss it, as it affords material enough for a paper in itself. 

 Besides the salt thus exported, we must reckon at least 



