COMMERCE — SHIPPING AND COMMUNICATIONS 105
200 head of cattle, imported from Scinde. Plumbago mines working at end of 1919, 50. The exports of plumbago in 1919 were 128,000 cwt. Other minerals, such as gold, thorium, and monazite, exist, but, except the last-named, so far hare not been found in quantities of commercial importance. There are some hundreds of small gem quarries, from which sapphires, rubies, moonstones, catseyes, and other gems are obtained. Native manufactures, which are at present of very minor importance, are weaving, basket work, tortoise-shell boxes, kc, earthenwares, jewellery, metal work, lacquer work, carving, kc Manufactures on any large scale are confined to the products of agriculture, such as the production of coconut oil. In 1919 there were 1,266 registered factories, including 1,033 tea and rubber factories, 115 coconut fibre, oil, kc, factories, 44 engineering and sawmills, 22 aerated water, ice, kc, factories.
Commerce.
Years
Import* 1
Export* 1
Tears
1918 '
1919 i
I m ports 1
£ 12,343,081 11.S49.112 21,106,060
BxporU 1
1913 1915
1916
13,309,SS« 1 1,229.735 14,6«3,72«
£ 15,657,570 18,2*5,145 19,836.077
£ 20,452.997 14.20S.922 31.91S.041
1 Including bullion and specie.
The values of imports and exports are declared, and represent the wholesale valnes at the place of import or export. Declarations are subject to scrutiny and penalty. The Chamber of Commerce, as representing the trade of the island, assists by supplying the value on which a rated duty is levied. Quantities of imports are ascertained from inToices or by actual examination ; of exports, from declarations and by examination of the shipping documents, shippers being liable to penalties for misstatement. The origin and destination of goods are also obtained from the shipping documents. In some cases, however, goods intended for transhipment abroad are so entered, e.g. to Xew York, rid London. The transit trade includes all goods transhipped direct in port, as well as goods landed into transhipment warehouses. The transit trade of Colombo has largely increased of late years, but, as no bills of entry are required in respect of transhipment goods, the returns as to quantity are only approximately correct, and no returns as to value can be prepared.
Principal exports in 1919 — Cacao, 271.797/. ; cinnamon, 321.332/. ; coir (and manufactures", 265,136'. : copra, 2,813,656/. ; coconut oil, 2,232,560/. ; tea, 10,130,621/. (208,560.943 lbs.) ; plumbago, 150.616/. ; coconut, fresh, 25,445/. ; coconut, desiccated, 2,167,666/. ; areca nuts, 266,013/. ; rubber, 11,484,470/. (900,198 cwt.) ; citronella oil, 77,934/.
Principal imports in 1919. — Cotton manufactures, 1,538,990/. ; rice, 5.767.429/. ; coal and coke, 2,998,151/ ; spirits, 90,771/. ; sugar, raw and refined, 879,307/.; manures, 879,214/. ; bullion and specie, 295,300/.
According to Ceylon returns the total imports from the United Kingdom in 1919 amounted to 2,947,029/., and exports thereto, to 13,447,089/.
In 1919 (British Board of Trade Returns) the value of tea imported into the United Kingdom from Cevlon was 9,065,000/. (quantitv, 137,333,000 lbs.). Other imports in 1919 were: rubber, 3,608,000/. (33,500,0001b*.) ; coconut oil, 1,531,000/. : nuts, and kernels, 1.432,000/. ; plumbago, 60,000/. ; cinnamon, 163 000/. The principal exports of United Kingdom produce to Ceylon in 1919 were cottons, 656,000/.; iron and steel and manufactures thereof. 384,000/. : machinery, 167JO0O/. : spirits, 41,000/. ; tobacco, 36,300/.
Total imports into United Kingdom, 1920 : 16,915,000/. ; total exports of British pioduce to Ceylon, 6,347,000/.
Shipping and Communications.
Shipping entered and cleared, 1919, 17,706,617 tons (British, 13 181,162 tons). In 191S, the total tonnage was 6,607,565, and British, 4.975,698.
