Statement showing the arrivals of Spanish and foreign vessels at Malaga dur Nationality. Spanish. English French... United States. Italian .. Portuguese.. Belgian Danish: Swedish. Norwegian. Hamburg. Russian Hanoverian Mexican... Prussian ing the year 1861. 2,302 No. Crew. Horse-power. Tonnage. 5501 16 47 4,411 12 Total... 627 4,411 I have the honor to submit the following report of the commerce of this port to and from the United States of America for the year reaching from September 30, 1861, to this date. The general exports to the United States consist of raisins, grapes, lemons, figs, almonds, wines, wool, licorice paste, and root, straw mats, and palm hats. The imports from the United States are cotton, staves, and lumber. Spanish duty on other American exports exclude them from this market. Owing to the war now unhappily existing in our country and the temporary increase of duties on imports, the trade with America has not been so large the past twelve months as in former years. But notwithstanding the enormous rate of exchange prevailing between our principal commercial eities and London, I am happy to say that the indications are that our trade the coming year with this province will exceed that of the past year. To the present time the orders for fruit are much larger, at limited prices, than at this time last year. Raisins. The raisin market opened this year at prices far beyond the reach of our merchants, but all declining; and from the fact that a large crop of fruit has been produced, exceeding that of last year, and the comparatively small demand so far for the European markets, I anticipate an early fall in prices to that suggested by American buyers as the limit to which they will go. The crop of muscatel grapes this year is large, and the fruit very fine. From the 30th of September, 1861, to the present date about 267,262 boxes shipped to the United States by American vessels, and 152,700 boxes by foreign vessels; making a total shipment for the year of 419,964 boxes. The prices of raisins for the same period have ranged from $1 20 to $1 25 for layers, and from $1 10 to $1 55 for bunch. raisins were Lemons. The crop of lemons is also large and fine. About 16,643 boxes gone to the United States by American vessels, and 4,045 boxes by foreign vessels. The prices have ranged from $1 60 to $2 S5 per box. have Figs.-The crop of figs has likewise been large, and are selling at this time at 70 cents per box of 12 pounds. Wines.-Malaga wines are not sought for in America now as formerly, and consequently the shipments have been small. Prices have ranged from $14 to $16 per quarter cask. Almonds.-Are very abundant, and selling at $3 80 per frail of 58 pounds, with shells on, and $3 40 per box of 25 pounds, without shells. Licorice. But little licorice root is gathered in this province. It is now worth about $2 per 100 pounds. Straw mats. Shipments to America are very small. They sell at about $2 50 per bale of one dozen. Palm hats.-Formerly large shipments were sent to the southern States. Since the rebellion but small shipments have gone to America. Lead. From the 30th of September, 1861, to the present date, 883 tons of lead have gone to the United States by American vessels, and 1,599 tons by foreign vessels; making a total shipment of 2,482 tons during the year. The price per quintal has ranged from $3 60 to $4. Wool. The shipments of wool have been light. But little is produced in this province. Grapes.-Packing grapes are abundant this year. Only small quantities are sent to America. They are now selling at $3 25 per keg of 25 pounds. Values of exports to America.-It is estimated that the value of exports from this port to the United States for the past year will reach the sum of $913,354. The estimated value of exports from September 30, 1860, to September, 1861, was $1,699,769, being an excess in value over the past year of $786,415. Staves. The number of staves imported from the United States by American vessels the past year was 751,933, and by foreign vessels 58,800, making a total of 810,733. The demand is now quite small, and the stock on hand very large; heavy pipe are selling at $1 80 per thousand, and light pipe at $1 60. The value of imports of American products into this port from September 30, 1860, to September 30, 1861, was $550,869. The value of imports for the past year is estimated at $129,717, being a decrease in value of imports compared with the previous year of $421,152. Grain-The crops of this province the present year have generally been very good. The first quality of wheat is selling at from $3 15 to $3 25 per fanega of 90 pounds. Indian corn is selling at from $2 20 to $2 30 per fanega of 90 pounds. Freights. From September last to the beginning of the past August freights by American vessels were exceedingly low, ranging from $4 to $6 per ton. At present the demand for American vessels is good, and freight may be reckoned at from $7 to $9 per ton. A report has again been circulated of privateers abroad; and should it prove to be true, a decline for freights by American ves sels will, of course, be the result. Arrival of vessels.-On the 30th day of last September five American vessels remained in port. Since then 57 vessels have arrived, classed as follows: 1 ship, 23 barks, 18 brigs, and 16 schooners; remaining in port to-day, 9 vessels. The aggregate tonnage amounts to 16,652 tons, being an excess over last year of 2,164 tons. Exchange-Ninety days' bills on London are selling at 501; Paris, 5.31; Hamburg, 45; on New York it is difficult to negotiate bills at all. They are taken about 30 per cent. discount. Agriculture. I have no changes of any kind in the agricultural districts to communicate. This part of Spain is in a highly prosperous state. Peace and quiet reign. I have no changes in port regulations or charges to communicate, and no royal order or decree affecting the commerce of America with this province has been made known to me. • SANTANDER. RICHARD C. HANNAH, Consul. OCTOBER 25, 1862. I have the honor to make the following report on the trade of Santander during the past year, ending September 30, 1862, and of subjects connected with the same. I should like to have furnished this at an earlier date, but have been unable to do so on account of. being unable to obtain the proper information at an earlier period. The city of Santander is situated 2° 26' longitude from the Spanish observatory of San Fernando, and 43° 28′ of north latitude. It has rapidly advanced, having more than doubled its population in twenty years. Its inhabitants were reckoned in 1840 at 11,000. It is now something more than 25,000; and by the embankment of about 1,000 acres of land, formerly covered with water, it has acquired a means of extension in which it was formerly very deficient, as land suitable for building was restricted by the hills. It is continuing rapidly to extend. Its bay possesses a nearly land-locked surface of water, measuring about two thousand seven hundred yards by four thousand five hundred, being an area of about two thousand five hundred acres. Although it is possible that the deposite of sand in various parts of it has had for many years a tendency towards narrowing its channels leading to the anchorage grounds, an estimate may be formed as to its present capacity as a shipping port, from the circumstance that it was the only harbor, with the exception of those at the extreme west of the peninsula, deemed capable of admitting the English government steamer" Himalaya," when it conveyed, in the summer of 1860, the astronomers of the north of Europe to Spain to view the eclipse of the sun in that year. This vessel, it is well known, is the largest troop and transport ship in the British naval service, and draws twenty-five feet of water. Passages on the extreme east, near to the coast of France and Bilboa, however, hope to rival at some future period, by artificial means, the natural advantages possessed by Santander. In regard to internal communication, until recently Santander was in exclusive possession of another advantage in the existence of a railway which, although incomplete for about ten miles of its length across the Pyrenees, enabled it, through its junction at the Alar with the Castilian canal and with the interior railways and main roads, to communicate more easily than any other place on the coast with all the more important towns of Spain and with Madrid. The hiatus existing in the Santander line is in the course of being obviated by means of the Castilian Credit Company, (the Compaña Credito Castellaño,) who have undertaken the construction of the same within three years from the present time. Bilboa has, however, recently, by the completion of a railway, effected the shortest existing communication in Spain between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean seas. Its advantages as a place of trade are, nevertheless, impeded by the state of its harbor, which is obstructed by a bar that frequently shifts, and which does not admit, when passable, vessels drawing more than about fifteen feet of water. Being frequently impassable, vessels have, on such occasions, to make for Santoña, a harbor of the third class, in the province of Santander. Only the other day the vessels for that port were obliged to take refuge in the little harbor of Castro Urdiales, a fourth class port in this province. Passages, although deep, consist only of a tortuous channel between lofty rocks, about ninety feet asunder; and, without the construction of docks, it can hardly be considered an available harbor for shipping. The ports of Spain have different and special privileges, without direct reference to their capacities. They are divided into four classes. Several of the fourth class ports on this coast are superior as harbors to Bilboa or Gijon, which are first class ports, in accordance with said division. The Cantabrian coast is parcelled out in the manner I shall now mention: Bilboa, Santander, Gijon, and Corunna, alone are of the first class, and enjoy the privilege of the universal exportation and importation of all articles. Bilboa has been referred to. Corunna is at the extreme west of the peninsula, and a convenient harbor, entitled to its distinction. Ferrol, however, with its capital basin, and having within it great fortifications, the principal dock-yard of Spain, is degraded as a commercial harbor to the third class. On Gijon immense sums have been lavished; and having originally been suitable for vessels under one hundred tons, is even yet hardly a safe harbor for vessels of some three hundred tons, and the north and northeast winds render it a bad haven, except in summer weather. Although this is a first class port, the larger vessels carrying on the local communications, such as steamers, do not generally enter, but wait in the offing. The trade of the place is limited, not being enough to sustain even one small newspaper. The only port of the second class in this consular district is Rivadeo, there being but four of such in Spain. They are not allowed to import cotton manufactures, a privilege which is confined to first class ports. Of harbors of the third class, which are only authorized to carry on the coasting trade, to export generally to foreign countries, and to import specially defined articles, there are two in the Oviedo portion of this district, viz: Ariles, for the importation of hemp, linen, pitch, and ship timber-goods required for a company called the Asturia Mining Company-goods and products from the Spanish American colonies, and for exporting to the latter; and Luarca, for pitch, linen, and ship timber; for importation from the Spanish colonies, of spirits, sugar, cod, cocoa, and coffee, and for exportation to the colonies. There are, likewise, two third class ports in the province of Santander itself, viz: Castro Urdiales, before mentioned, for tar, pitch, planks, spars, and sail cloth, for the construction and repair of ships, for tin plate, copper, and tin sheathing, for making the cans for manufactories of preserved provisions established there, and for fish roe; and Santoña for tar, pitch, building and masting timber, and fish roe. This last, with the exception of Santander, is the best harbor cast of Corunna and Ferrol. The fourth class are small in point of trade, although two of them, Rivadessella and Villa Viciosa, are considered as possessing more capabilities of every kind than Gijon. They are only allowed to import returned empty casks made in Spain, and foreign ones sent for the purpose of being filled with the liquids of the country in the presence of the custom-house officers, and to be immediately re-exported; to engage in the coasting trade and general exportation to foreign parts. Santander is one of the six custom-houses in Spain authorized to import French literary and scientific works, according to the treaty of November, 1853, between France and Spain, the others being Irun, Barcelona, Cadiz, Corunna, and Malaga. Accompanying this report will be found the following tables: Tabular return of imports to the port and province of Santander from October 1, 1861, to October 1, 1862, with their values, and the quantities and values of imports from October 1, 1860, to October 1, 1861. Tabular return of exports at the port and province of Santander from October 1, 1861, to October 1, 1862, and values. Tabular return of the coasting trade for the same period. The total value of imports, as shown by the enclosure No. 1, amounts to $9,238,318 during the year, from October 1, 1861, to October 1, 1862, as against $7,382,400, from October 1, 1860, to October 1, 1861, being an increase in |