Navigation and Commerce. 
H 9 
its several aspects. Certainly tlie tonnage duty, weighing ac¬ 
cording to. our system on the imports, modifies the proportion, 
since on one hand 5,000 tons represent only a value of $228,- 
680, whilst on the other, 2,200 tons give $343,870. But this 
circumstance is not sufficient to explain so great a difference. 
We think it would be good in the interest of the consumer to 
take these observations into consideration. Many articles which 
have been long looked upon as things of luxury, are made to¬ 
day at very low prices, and would be accessible with a moderate 
duty, but are excluded from our habits by a heavy tax. How¬ 
ever, we reason on existing facts, reserving any discussion on 
sumptuary taxes. The duty On American cargoes, which are 
composed, for the most part, of provisions, has been likewise 
below 16 per cent.” 
By far the largest portion of the exports and imports occurs 
in the months of September, October, November, and Decem¬ 
ber. During the first six months of every year, not more than 
one third of the annual exports and imports are made. The 
foregoing figures, therefore, must be regarded in the light of this 
fact, to give a true result in estimating the yearly commerce 
of the capital. 
So far, for the commerce between the States and Hayti % and 
for the trade of the chief port. These subjoined figures, which 
are also official, will give an idea of the general commerce of the 
Republic: “.The commerce of Hayti employs annually between 
500 - and 600 vessels, giving a total of about 70,000 tons, dis¬ 
tributed among the following nations: 
SHIPS. TONNAGE. 
United States. 250 30,000 
England. 90.'.. 12,000 
France. 70. 12,000 
Germany,Danish, Swedish, Rus¬ 
sian. 50 8,000 
Holland, Belgium, Italian, Cen¬ 
tral America, Spanish. 50... 7,000 ” 
13* 
