Number of seamen discharged.. 800 674 INWARD CARGOES. 89,145 gallons sperm oil, at 95 cents per gallon... 2,244,717 gallons whale oil, at 30 cents per gallon.. 295,912 pounds whalebone, at 45 cents per pound....... Total value of oil and bone, inward,. Merchandise, per merchant vessels, inward. Total inward cargoes.. OUTWARD CARGOES. 88,074 gallons sperm oil, at 95 cents per gallon... 1,990,611 gallons whale oil, at 30 cents per gallon.. 545,873 pounds whalebone, at 45 cents per pound. Total value of oil and bone, outward... Merchandise, per merchant vessels, outward.. Total outward cargoes.. Inward cargoes of merchant vessels, consisting of general merchandise, chiefly the production of the United States.... Outward cargoes of merchant vessels, consisting chiefly of Hawaiian produce, viz: sugar, sirup, coffee, puhe, fungus, salt, hides, goatskins, tallow, wool, arrowroot, &c... Difference between actual imports and exports...... $84, 687 75 673,265 25 133, 160 40 891, 113 40 67,860 66 958, 974 06 $83,670 30 597, 183 30 245, 642 85 926, 496 45 54,097 24 980,593 69 $67,860 66 54,097 24 13, 763 42 HAYTI. AUX CAYES.-B. F. SANFORD, Commercial Agent. MARCH 31, 1862. I enclose to you herewith a paper for the statistical bureau of the State Department, in reference to the commerce and navigation between this port and the United States for the quarter ending March 31, 1862. Owing to the existing civil war there has been some transfer of commerce, naturally belonging to the United States, to the British provinces. Formerly considerable lumber came here from Wilmington, N. C., which character of lumber now comes from Nova Scotia, and the same vessels that are engaged in this new lumber trade come also partly freighted with fish, an article of commerce heretofore principally supplied by the Boston merchants, and which they continue to furnish here in large quantities. It will be also seen, by reference to the paper enclosed, that the carrying trade between this and American ports has been done to a considerable extent under the British flag. There is at this time only a limited amount of dry goods of American manufacture consumed here. And yet the strong cotton fabrics from American looms enjoy a high degree of popularity. The absence of any American mercantile house here, and the fact that the English, German, and French houses lend all their energies to promote the consumption of goods from their respective countries, may be attributed as a reason why no more interest is taken in the importation of American fabrics. The provision trade is mostly surrendered to the United States, because Europe cannot compete with America in this line. But in regard to dry goods it is different; and the European houses strive hard to monopolize this entire trade. GEORGE C. Ross, Vice Commercial Agent. JUNE 30, 1862. I have the honor to send you herewith a list of the arrivals and departures from this port for the quarter ended to-day, viz: eleven American vessels, whose aggregate tonnage amounts to 1,755 tons. Their cargoes consisted of American goods to the value of $61,093 27, and their return cargoes of the produce of the island, amounting in value to $15,348 41. In addition to the value of American merchandise imported in American vessels during the three months, there has been imported in British vessels from New York and Boston value to the extent of $55,147 58, thus making a total of $116,240 85 worth of American goods imported into this port in the space of three months. The value of the exports bears no proportion to that of the imports, the total value exported only amounting to $26,560 17. Considerable shipments of specie have been made, which do not figure in the tables, nor can the amount be ascertained with accuracy. Remittances have also been made in bills of exchange, the favorable rates attainable in New York and Boston encouraging such remittances, while the high prices in Europe of this country's produce have induced shipments thither. The trade between this island and the United States is gradually increasing; and I suspect the statistical tables for the quarter ended December 31 will exhib t a very considerable improvement on those now sent. Now that Hayti has been recognized as an independent state, it would probably contribute materially to the welfare of both nations that a commercial treaty exist between the two powers. I am not aware that there is any treaty between this government and any of the European powers, and the first to form a precedent may attain the greatest advantages. A commercial treaty would form an excellent sequel to the recognition of independence, and "would not be without numerous advantages to the United States. * * The domestic fabrics of the United States are much appreciated in this country, but costing a little higher than similar goods manufactured in Britain, the consumption is curtailed. In the commercial treaty, the duty on such goods could be arranged for a favored nation, and the United States in compensation could favor the agriculture in Hayti by allowing St. Domingo coffee to pass at a reduced duty. There is every prospect that emigration of the African race from the United States to Hayti will extend very considerably. This I think the government should encourage and promote as far as possible. The entire population of the Haytiau port does not certainly exceed four hundred and fifty thousand souls; whereas it could easily support a population of five or six millions, and would not even then be so densely populated as Ireland. A continuous and ample stream of emigration would so change the Haytian element that revolutions would be impossible. CAPE HAYTIAN.-ARTHUR FOLSOM, Commercial Agent. OCTOBER 23, 1862. I have the honor of transmitting herewith my official returns for the quarter ending September 30, 1862, as also my yearly return up to the same date. By the enclosed yearly and quarterly returns it will be perceived that, although the European tonnage is now more than three times that of the United ་ States, still the imports from Europe are less than the imports from the United States. It will, likewise, be perceived that the exports to Europe are far in advance of those to the United States. This is in consequence of the higher prices of coffee and logwood in Europe, which enables the American merchant to make more favorable remittances in payment for his goods from the United States by purchasing drafts on Europe or in gold, as circumstances may dictate. The excess of European tonnage is in consequence of the large quantities of logwood shipped to Europe as freight, mostly in French bottoms. French vessels continue to arrive at this port in ballast, having landed cargoes of coal at Samana, where the French government has a large deposit. * Statement showing the tonnage of European vessels arrived at the ports of Cape Haytian and Gonaives during the year ended September 30, 1862, together with the value of their inward and outward cargoes. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. ST. DOMINGO.-WM. G. W. YAEGER, Commercial Agent. APRIL 1, 1862. It is now four months since I arrived here and took charge of this commercial agency. Last February I made a visit to the vice-agency at Porto Plata, and I can freely say that, in my life, I have never seen a more beautiful and fertile. country. The mountains are rich with very valuable woods and minerals of all descriptions, and the plains are clothed in rich verdure, and all that is requisite for the raising of stock. The road (if it can be called such) from this to Santiago, which is four days' journey, is difficult and dangerous, and does not afford the welcome of an inn. The principal villages on the road are Cotny, La Vega, and Maca; and the principal production is a fine tobacco used for wrappers. The majority of the population are whites, and are industrious; but, unfortunately, for the want of roads or means of transportation, the expenses consume the profits. Santiago is the second principal city in this province, and numbers some fifteen thousand souls. There are many handsome stores, and it appears to be a place of considerable business. 1 left Santiago for its port, called Porto Plata, which is one day's journey. This road is very difficult and dangerous, and the expense of the transport of two hundred pounds of tobacco is twelve dollars. Whenever an easy communication shall be opened to some of the ports of the sea, this part of the island will be one of the richest in the Antilles. Porta Plata is a small town and contains many capitalists, who are principally Germans, and its principal trade is with Hamburg. The people, generally, express their sympathy and sentiments in favor of our Union. Many improvements have been made in this city by restoring the ruins, and houses that commanded only from one to two hundred dollars are now renting for from eight to twelve hundred dollars per annum; and everything else is much more expensive than formerly. One great misfortune is that labor is very scarce, and the balance of trade is greatly against this place, as nearly all the money brought here by Spain has been sent to St. Thomas by the merchants to pay for goods purchased. * MEXICO. MEXICO.-MARCUS OTTERBOURG. SEPTEMBER 28, 1862. In compliance with section 153, prescribing that consuls should forward to the Department of State at the close of each year a report of the trade of the consular district in which they reside, I have the honor to report that, as far as the imports and exports are concerned, the increase and decrease of the same, I am unable to give the information demanded. Your excellency will see, by enclosure No. 1, that I have made the proper application in order to get the necessary statistics to give a reliable oversight of the foreign trade of this consular district. Enclosed No. 2 explains why I have been unable to comply with that part of my instructions. As to the regulations of trade and their effects little can be said, except that there are no regulations; nor can anything be said about the effects of commercial transactions, trade having virtually ceased for the last ten months. No goods have arrived here from Vera Cruz, or any other port, since the invading army has landed at the said named port. The American capital employed here in industrial, agricultural, scientific, and commercial pursuits is very small. There are, in fact, only two or three American houses here. The entire commerce is in the hands of Germans, English, French, and Spaniards, although this republic, by its position, is naturally tributary to the United States. We have, for want of direct and frequent communication, lost the trade, and thereby given to others what belongs to us-the control of the commercial relations of Mexico. The American population here numbers about one hundred. Over one-half are naturalized citizens. The agricultural relations of Mexico are in the most deplorable condition. Millions of acres of land, formerly cultivated, are lying idle for want of security and capital. According to my judgment there is a sure way to obtain the commercial position we ought to hold in Mexico-favoring, by all means in our power, direct and frequent communication between that republic and the United States. TAMPICO. FRANKLIN CHASE, Consul. SEPTEMBER 30, 1862. Statement showing the amount of specie exported from the port of Tampico from November 29, 1861, to September 30, 1862. NICARAGUA. SAN JUAN DEL NORTE.-B. S. COTRELL, Consul. OCTOBER 6, 1862. The business transacted at this port has been so very small the past year, as, indeed, has been the case for several preceding years, that it is scarcely possible to make a report, such as to attract more than a gleam of interest. The few facts to be stated I will give, as near as possible, in conformity with my instructions, hoping they may prove acceptable. There is no custom-house at this port, but the "Governador Intendente" requires the invoice of all merchandise imported and to be sold here to be presented to him, on which he collects 5 per cent. duties, except on powder and manufactured tobacco; on the former of which a duty of 15 per cent., and on the latter of 20 per cent. is imposed. The articles of import consist of all kinds of merchandise for family consumption. The exports are deer skins, beef hides, Brazil wood, indigo, cocoa, coffee, Indiarubber, turtle shell, sarsaparilla, and, this year, a small lot of cotton. All these articles are produced in the interior of the state, except turtle shell and sarsaparilla, which are brought from along the coast, and here find a market. present market prices of these productions are ton Deer skins, each Turtle shell, per lb.. Cotton......do ... .... The $0.50 2.50 40 00 100 00 20 00 20 00 28 00 3 00 0 25 0 15 Of these articles there have been shipped from this port during the last year, (I can give only their estimated value) There have arrived, from September 30, 1861, to September 30, 1862, forty-seven vessels, of all classes, including the English mail steamers; the whole amount of tonnage being 23,353 tons. Deducting for nine American vessels arrived during the same period, 996 tons, leaves the total other foreign |