GEOGRAPHIC NOTES 
NORTH AMERICA 
Newfoundland. The Newfoundland seal fishery has ended in a total 
catch of 196,485 seals, weighing 4,637 tons and of the value of $268,000. 
Mexico. The imports of British cottons into Mexico in 1895 were nearly 
double those of the preceding year, although the Mexican mills were 
favored by protection and also by the low price of silver. 
Canada. The Royal Society of Canada has adopted a memorial to the 
governor-general praying his intervention with the imperial government 
in favor of the unification of nautical, civil, and astronomical time, the 
reform to come into effect on the first day of the new century. 
The Canadian and British governments have come to an agreement 
relative to the subsidization of a fast steamship service between Liverpool, 
or some other English port, and Quebec in summer, and Halifax, Nova 
Scotia, in wipter. The vessels are to be in every respect equal to the best 
steamers running into New York. 
SOUTH AMERICA 
British Guiana. About 20 miles have been completed of the railroad 
that is being constructed from Kartabo point, at the junction of the 
Mazaruni and Cuyuny rivers and opposite the mining town of Bartica, 
to the interior of the country. Another enterprise that will facilitate 
access to the interior is the line that is being built from AVismar, on the 
Demerara river, to a point on the Esequibo above the dangerous falls that 
interfere with the navigation of that stream. Two other lines, both in 
the Barima mining district, are being rapidly pushed to completion. 
EUROPE 
Austria. Large vessels can now sail right up the Danube to Vienna, 
and tlie construction of ship canals connecting the Danube, Oder, and 
Vistula, and also between Budapest and Fiume, is strongly advocated. 
E.ngl.vnd. Tlie total receipts of the Manchester Ship Canal for the first 
four months of the present year showed an increase of more than $55,000 
on those for the corre.sponding period of 1895. 
The president of tlie Royal Geographical Society, Mr C. R. Alark- 
ham, receivetl the honor of knighthood on the recent anniver.sary of 
Queen Victoria’s birthday. 
The Founders’ medal of the Royal Geographical Society has been 
awarded to Sir W. Macgregor for his valuable geograi)hical work in New 
Guinea; the Patrons’ me<lal to Mr St. George R. Littleilale for his expe- 
ditions in Central Asia; the Mun;hison award to Khan Bahadur Yusuf 
Sharif, native Indian surveyor; the (till memorial to Mr A. P. Low for 
explorations in I.«abrador ; the Black grant to Mr .1. Burr Tyrrell for his 
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