'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1903-1904' [‎90v] (68/112)

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Chap. IV.
PRODUCTION
AND
DISTRIBUTION.
Imports.
Exports.
Geographical
distribution of
trade.
Shipping.
General.
Imports.
Exports.
Shipping.
General.
44 BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT. [1903-19o4 (
to the port of Bombay showed a rise of 43 per cent., while exports from the port fell Py ^
percent. Advances were noticed in oil-seeds (13 l&khs of mannds), raw cotton and “ other
food-grains” (8 Idkhs of maunds each), and sugar (5 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of maunds). Eadvvay plant and
rolling stock receded by If Idkhs of maunds.
(2) SIND.
The total value of the sea-borne trade of Sind during the year is the highest on record,
It amounted to nearly 28 crores as against 22 crores in the previous year. Excludino
Government stores and treasure, the total value was nearly 25 crores against 19J crores, showing
an improvement of 29 per cent. It is divided into (1) Foreign and (2) Coasting trade.
i
Chief Port—Karachi.
I.—Foreign Trade,
Imports from and exports to foreign external ports increased in value from Rs. 13,53,72,362
to Rs. 19,36,02,989, an increase of nearly 6 crores or 43 per cent, on the Trade of 1902-03.
On the whole import trade there was an increase of 41 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or nearly 8 per cent , as compared
with the previous year. There is a decrease of nearly 20,000 gallons in the quantity of liq uor
imported, but there is only a trifling decrease of Rs. 2,000 in the total value owing to the
importation of better qualities. The value of imported sugar rose by over 21 Idkhs, after falling
by 48 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in 1902-03. There was a further decrease of about 30 14khs in bounty-fed sugar
and an increase in British and Egyptian sugar of 30 and 19 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees respectively. The countries
contributing to the increase in British sugar imports were United Kingdom (17J Bkhs),
Mauritius (nearly 10 Idkbs) and Straits Settlements (3 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees ). Metals, coal, oils, and woolen
piece-goods all show increases. The only important decrease in imports was- in cotton goods and
yarn. This was due to the high price of raw cotton.
The value of exports was more than double the average of the previous four years, and
shows an increase of 71 per cent, as against last year, the figures being Rs. 12,79.11, 357 and
Rs. 7,47,38,119 respectively. Wheat and raw cotton are the principal causes of the increase,
Wheat exports amounted to 7J crores against 3| crores last year, an increase of Rs. 3,61,32,176.
Most of it went to the United Kingdom. Cotton showed an increase of over 1J crores, Italy
and Germany being the chief recipients with 56 and 41 Idkhs respectively. The exports of
rape-seed and tihseed rose by 13 and 10J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees respectively. Rice, the only dutiable export
article, fell by 10 Mkhs in 1902-03 and shows this year a further decrease of nearly one lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to
Rs. 14,44,440.
Of the total foreign trade Europe claimed 92 per cent., the United Kingdom alone claiming
59 per cent, as against 52 per cent, last year, while Africa, Asia and America divided the
remaining 8 per cent.
The total number of vessels employed in the foreign trade rose to 1,021 with a tonnage of
1,288,578 against 880 with a tonnage of 841,067 last year. Of these 255 were British,
19 Austro-Hungarian, and 59 Arab.
II.—Coasting Trade.
On the whole coasting trade there was a small decline of 2i Mkhs.
Imports improved by 33 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees from Es. 3.34,10,689 to Es. 3,67,08,355. The chief cause
is an increase of 17J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in imports of Indian and foreign cotton goods from Bombay.
Bombay claims 88 per cent, of the total import trade.
Exports show a decline of 35 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to Es. 1,77,70,912. Bombay claims 78 per cent, of
Uie export trade. The high price of raw cotton combined with good crops caused an increase
m the export trade m this article of 19^ lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . Most other exports show a decrease, the most
noticeable one being a decrease of 28J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in wheat, which is explained by the fact that large
shipments were made direct to foreign countries owing to increased demand.
The number of vessels engaged in the coasting trade decreased from 3,974 to 2,861, but the
total tonnage remained nearly stationary at 10,47,253 tons.
E/T .—Trade with Subordinate Forts.
Exciudmg treasure there was a slight increase in the value of merchandise imported into
Es 10 P 8M3h ° m the SUb ° rdinate P ° rfcS ° f Keti • Ba,lclar aBd Sir g anda fr om Rs. 9,95,457 to
Sind External Land Trade.
TheUote^tl t d ^ rade ! fSm f 18 camed 011 wltl1 Afghanistan, Baluchistan and Seistan.
11 nefflf ll 6 f iT. S and , eXp0rts ( 88i Ukhs ) sll0ws an increa ^ of nearly 9 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or
of the bln Ew f at of last year, but is 13f lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees less than that of 1901-02. Thus in spite
almost^rohfhit ^ ^ ^ ushkl - Sei8ta “ route by the new Persian Tariff System and the
trade seems to be mSning iteSistence 68 ^ ^ ^ ^ 0£ A % hanistaI1 ' this branch ° f