484 IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. [March 1896. 



sheep and lambs' wool, as deduced from the declarations to the 

 Customs, stands at little over 8d, or slightly below the level 

 of 1894, when it was S^d. per lb. Low prices prevailed during 

 the earlier part of the year, in which the larger share o£ the 

 imports reach our ports. The imports during the last half year 

 were nearly ^d. per lb. dearer than those received during the 

 first half. 



Of other kinds of wool, alpaca (including vicuna and llama), 

 while less in quantity, showed a considerable increase in value. 

 Imports of goats' wool or hair showed a rise in quantity of 

 34 per cent., while their value augmented by 65 per cent., their 

 enhanced value being due to the special demand which arose 

 last summer for alpaca and lustre wools. 



The imports of sheep and lambs' wool are shown below : — 





Quantities. 



Values. 



Wool, Sheep and 

 Lamhs'. 





















1894. 



1895. 



1894. 



1895. 





lbs. 



lbs. 



£ 



£ 



From Australasia 



502,002,490 



541,394,383 



18,040,107 



18,204,871 



From British Posses- 



70,585,593 



75,334,080 



2,743,552 



2,916,931 



sions in South 











Africa. 











From British East 



41,156,812 



38,993,242 



1,136,240 



1,038,648 



Indies. 











From Other countries - 



86,805,367 



115,239,655 



2,871,261 



3,871,100 



Total 



700,550,262 



770,961,360 



24,791,160 



26,031,550 



Exports, both of home and foreign wools, show a great 

 increase, practically the whole of the excess having been shipped 

 to the United States. The exports of British wool to tlie States, 

 our principal customer, were 134 per cent, more than in 1894, 

 while their value was almost 200 per cent. more. The figures 

 of the re-exports and exports of native wools during the two 

 past years may be shown as under : — 



Wool, Sheep and 

 Lambs'. 



Quantities. 



Values. 



1894. 



1895. 



1894. 



1895. 



To United States : 

 Home 

 Foreign 



„ Other countries : 

 Home 

 Foreign 



Total ~{^Zt,n : 



lbs. 

 5,898,000 

 53,003,894 



7,086,900 

 291,945,567 



lbs. 



13,823,400 

 125,226,620 



7,893,900 

 278,951,313 



162,761 

 1,641,168 



328,253 

 11,833,880 



485,605 

 4,132,619 



374,348 

 11,004,617 



12,984,900 

 344,949,461 



21,717,300 

 404,177,933 



491,014 

 13,475,048 



859,953 

 15,137,236 



