THE TRADE OF PLYMOUTH. . 391 
the trade done at particular ports; for while our trade has been 
increasing for twenty years, the Customs duties paid here have 
been diminishing, because the duties have been taken off the 
goods in which we principally deal. In 1853 we paid £191,267 
in duties; in 1857 we paid £266,677 in duties. From 1850 
to 1874 an enormous number of various duties were taken off, 
and in the last-named year the sugar duties were repealed, which 
reduced the amount paid here to, in 1875, £59,346; 1876, 
£63,260; 1877, £63,926, figures however which show a pro- 
gressive trade. 
While Plymouth ranks seventeenth in importance on the value 
of imports, including the out-ports of London, and twelfth in 
importance on the amount of Customs duties paid, she is seventh 
in importance taking both value of imports and Customs duties 
together, being only exceeded in both by London, Liverpool, 
Bristol, Hull, Newcastle, Grimsby. 
I will now proceed to give particulars of these imports, which 
will show of what our trade consists and the countries with which 
we trade. I will give the particulars of the years 1857, 1860, 
1865, 1870, 1874, and 1877. These dates have an air of irregu- 
larity: about them which requires explanation. 
The annual statement of the trade of the United Kingdom, 
prepared at the statistical office of the Customs, gives the imports 
in detail of the principal ports. In 1857 Plymouth was placed 
sixth among the principal ports, which were thirteen in number, 
and remained so placed until the year 1875, when Plymouth 
was struck out of the list of the principal ports altogether, and 
Dover and Newhaven, out-ports of London having but little 
trade of their own, were added; making fourteen principal ports 
in all instead of thirteen. The value of the imports at these 
packet stations is no doubt very high, and the principal ports 
are ranked probably according to the value of their imports, 
but this trade is London trade and not their own, whilst our 
trade is exclusively our own. The particulars of our imports 
for the years 1857, 1860, 1865, 1870, and 1874, I have taken 
from the published annual statements; and for the year 1877 I 
am indebted to Mr. Stephen Bourne, who has kindly supplied 
me with the information respecting Plymouth which is not now 
published. 
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