June 1896.] INDIAN TRADE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. 19 



INDIAN TRADE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. 



The recently issued statement of the trade of British India 

 for the year 1894-95 contains much interesting information 

 relating to the agricultural products of the Indian Empire. 

 Tables relating to the foreign sea-borne trade of British India 

 are appended to this publication, together with a " Review ot 

 the Trade of India," by Mr. J. E. O'Conor, CLE., Director 

 •General of Statistics to the Government of India. 



It is stated in an introductory note to the volume that all 

 values are given therein as " tens of rupees," a denomination 

 which, while not subject to the charge of inaccuracy attaching to 

 that of " £ sterling," calculated at the nominal exchange of 2s. 

 to the rupee, nevertheless enables comparisons to be made with 

 the figures in any past volumes in which that expression of 

 values was employed. The sign Rx. is used to signify tens of 

 rupees. 



The imports of the principal articles of agricultural produce 

 enumerated under the heading of "provisions " during three years 

 1892 to 1895 are given as follows: — 



Article. 



1892-93. 



1893-94. 



1894-95. 



Bacon and hams - 



Cheese - - - - 



Butter - 



Flour ----- 



Lbs. 



793,095 

 790,231 

 315,278 

 1,316,581 



Lbs. 

 954,854 

 826,943 

 289,348 

 1,396,291 



Lbs. 



969,927 

 906,968 

 301,997 

 1,249,692 



There is also a large importation of unenumerated goods 

 which it is practically impossible to specify. These are mainly 

 canned fish and meats, preserves, jams and jellies, biscuits, 

 condiments, and the innumerable " tinned stores," as they are 

 called, which play an important part in Anglo-Indian households. 

 The value of these goods in 1894-5 amounted to Rx. 655,765. 



Australia began to make a little show in 1894-5 in the list of 

 ■countries whence provisions are imported into India, and this 

 development is attributed to the work of the two Commissioners 

 sent to India from Victoria to push business. 



The importation of wool into India by sea is relatively small. 

 Last year the quantity was a little less than half a million 

 pounds valued at Rx. 132,419. Most of the foreign wool 

 imported is received overland from the countries across 1 the 

 Western and Northern frontiers, and much of it is re-exported. 

 The imports by sea are also largely re-exported, and only a 

 small portion — that which is received from Australia — is 

 consumed in local manufacture ; these imports have amounted to 



B 2 



