The following shows the quantities of each description of cotton for 1899, in thousands of pounds, and the corresponding totals of previous years:

Ellison & Co., of Liverpool, give the following estimate of the average price of cotton at that port for a series of years:

Helmuth, Swartze & Co., London, give the following statements of the supply, export, and consumption of wool in the United Kingdom:

Tons.

FLAX, HEMP, AND JUTE.

The imports of these articles into the United Kingdom were as follows:

Flax-Dressed, undressed, and

Tow or Codilla of -

The quantity and value of fish, excluding shell fish, landed on the coast of the United Kingdom
for the year 1899 were as follows: England and Wales, 429,744 tons, value £6,335,736; Scotland, 259,198
tons, value £2,191,312; Ireland, 50,373 tons, value £337,922; total United Kingdom, 739,315 tons, value
£7,936,017; including shell fish, £9,344,338.

Imports and Exports.

The merchandise imports and exports of Great Britain have been as follows for a series of years

CLASSES OF ARTICLES FOR TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31.

Imports from foreign countries and British possessions (in thousands of £'s):

Exports of British and Irish produce and manufactures (in thousands of £'s):

* Including £9,195,192, the value of new ships (not registered as British), not recorded prior to 1899.

PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF BRITISH IMPORT (IN THOUSANDS OF £'s).

PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF BRITISH EXPORT, HOME PRODUCE (IN THOUSANDS of £'s).

PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF BRITISH EXPORT, HOME PRODUCE (IN THOUSANDS OF £'s).

THE PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF CHIEF ARTICLES OF FOOD.

The quantity of the principal food imports retained for home consumption per head of popula-

tion in each of the years named was as follows:

TOTAL SHIPPING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE HOME AND FOREIGN TRADE.

Railways, Telegraphs, Coins, Monetary System, Weights and Measures.

(See Index, under "Great Britain.")

Length.
Miles.

Canals and Other Navigable Waters.

At the latest date available-1898-the length, traffic, revenue, and expenditure of the canals and navigations in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, which do not, and of those which do, belong to railway companies were as follows:

14,640 108,148

13,316

84,517

The paid-up capital of these waterways not belonging to railway companies was, in 1898, in England and Wales, £35,091.403; in Scotland, £1,254,047; in Ireland, £1,583.829; total £37,929,279.

The Manchester Ship Canal, opened in 1894, is 35% miles in length, 26 feet in depth, and (except for 2 miles near Latchford) not less than 120 feet in bottom width. The minimum width of the locks is 65 feet. The large docks at Manchester are 26 feet deep, and the smaller 20 feet. The canal is in direct communication with all the large canals of the district. The capital of the company is £15,412,000. The traffic is exhibited as follows:

NOTE.-Does not include old Bridgewater Barge Canal, now the property of the Manchester Ship Canal.

The standard of value is gold. Silver is legal tender up to 40 shillings; bronze up to 12d., but farthings only up to 6d. Bank of England notes are legal tender.

The following table shows the amount of gold, silver, and bronze moneys issued from the Royal Mint, London, and of light gold coin and worn silver coin sent in for re-coinage:

* Includes orders received into the United Kingdom from colonies and foreign countries as well as orders sent out to same.