REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I916 259 



In recent years small amounts of garnet have been imported 

 from Spain for manufacture, in competition with the domestic 

 product. The quantity so imported in 191 5 was 1343 short tons 

 with a declared value of $24,472. No figures of the amount imported 

 in 1916 have been obtainable, as no record was made of the ton- 

 nage that passed through the customs office, although the value 

 was given as $43,481. 



GRAPHITE 



Trade conditions in the graphite industry last year were quite 

 unprecedented. The demands for crucible grades far exceeded 

 the supply and there was a marked advance in consequence in the 

 prices of crystalline graphite, both domestic and foreign. Since 

 the outbreak of the present war the consumption has increased 

 greatly on account of the requirements for crucible steel and for 

 brass manufacture, both of which industries have experienced a 

 tremendous expansion in connection with the making of ammuni- 

 tions. The shortage of supply has been in part an artificial con- 

 dition, resulting from the scarcity and high costs of shipping and 

 also from the embargo which the British and French governments 

 put upon the importation of graphite from Ceylon and Madagascar 

 in the first year of the war. This embargo was later removed, so 

 that importations could be made under certain guaranties and 

 restrictions ; but still the imports, which last year exceeded all 

 records, supplemented by a large domestic production, did not meet 

 the needs. 



The imports of crystalline graphite for the last five years have 

 been as follows: In 1916, 64,120,000 pounds valued at $6,933,731 ; 

 in 1915, 45,064,000 pounds valued at $2,049,792; in 1914, 22,166,000 

 pounds valued at $1,107,192; in 1913, 38,756,000 pounds valued at 

 $ I >835,530; and in 1912, 39,220,000 pounds valued at $1,506,934. 

 Of the quantities given, all but a small proportion each year has 

 come from Ceylon, the remainder having been supplied by Mada- 

 gascar, Korea, Canada and other countries. The domestic produc- 

 tion, as given by the United States Geological Survey, for the same 

 period has been as follows : 1916, 10,931,989 pounds worth $914,748 ; 

 1915, 7.074,370 pounds, $417,273; 1914, 5,220,539 pounds, $285,368; 

 1913, 5,064,727 pounds, $254,328; 1912, 3,54377! pounds, $187,689. 



The highest market prices are commanded by the Ceylon graphite 

 in lump form, for which as much as 25 to 30 cents a pound was 

 paid in 1916. The domestic flake graphite of the best quality was 

 sold at 12 to 15 cents a pound. A reduction on these prices should 

 be made of course for the lower grades, which in regard to domestic 



