1906 ^ Cent. Prov.... 



(E. Prov. ... 



(W. Prov. ... 



J 907 ^ Cent. Prov. ... 



E. Prov. ... 



Value. 



£ £ 

 8,975 + 10,209 

 47,467 + 1,560 

 499 + 8 



7,637 + 

 55,197 + 



5,825 

 462 

 120 



154 



The proportion of the total export from S. Nigeria attributed 

 to each province is shown in the following figures (J.c. Appen- 

 dices B, i. ii. and iii.) : — 



Quantity. 

 Logs. c. ft. 



W. Prov 1,566 + 533,943 



14,067 + 27,067 



101 + 285 



1,465 + 162,823 



15,772 + 6,265 



— 7,300 



The trade descriptions would be Benin Mahogany, Sapele 

 Mahogany, Lagos Mahogany, etc., following the port of shipment. 

 According to a recent trade report (Chaloner & Co., Liverpool, 

 Jan. 1st, 1906), the total supplv of Mahogany from the West 

 Coast of Africa during 1905 was 16,965,137 feet, of which the 

 proportion from Southern Nigerian ports is shown in the 

 following figures : — 



Feet. Logs. 



Benin 3,889,809 = 6,488 



Lagos 1,978,060 = 3,629 



Sapele 896,772 = 1,109 



Bakana 58,521= 58 



The value of Lagos Mahogany (1st Jan., 1906) was ?>\d. to Id. 

 per foot of 1-inch, and that of African Mahogany '6\d. to Sd. (I.e.) ; 

 exactly the same prices were recorded for 1905 (I.e.), and this 

 would appear to be about the normal value of West African 

 Mahogany. Some big prices have occasionally been given for logs. 

 According to the Timber News (Feb. 18th, 1889, p. 31) a finely 

 figured log was sold at Messrs. Edward Chaloner & Co.'s sale, the 

 10th Feb., 1889, for £408 5s. Sd. (3s. Sd. per foot), and the Timber 

 Trades Journal (March 12th, 1904, p. 571) recorded the sale on the 

 28th Nov., 1903, by the same firm, of a log which realized the 

 remarkable price of £1,046 5s. (12s. 6d. per foot). 



It is of interest to note the difference in the supply price, 

 prime cost of production or export price, and the demand or 

 import price on the wholesale markets of the United Kingdom. 

 Taking, for example, the year 1907, the return in value of the 

 quantities shipped from S. Nigeria to the United Kingdom, 

 expressed in tons (Trade of the Unit. Kingdom, i. 1908, p. 264), is 

 £254,848, and the return in value of the quantities, which it may 

 be fairly assumed are the same, though expressed in logs and 

 cubic feet (S. Nig. Gov. Gaz., I.e.), is £57,859. These figures show 

 a difference of £196,989, or nearly £200,000 to be accounted for 

 in freight, market and other charges, and profits. 



The wood cuts out into very fine planks, and for joinery and 

 cabinet work it is most valuable. It has much the appearance 

 in colour of the Spanish or Honduras Mahogany (Swietenia 

 MaJiagoni), but rather softer, with a less cdmpact grain (Kew 

 Bull. 1890, p. 168). 



Canoes made of Mahogany are common in the waters of Degema 

 and Brass, where a large trade is done in them with other parts of 

 the colony. 



