No. 8.-SILK GOODS.

Detailed comparative statement of the exports of French silk fabrics to the United States, England, and all countries.

DECEMBER 11, 1862.

SIR: I respectfully enclose a report of the French silk trade for the year 1861.

REPORT.

The exports of silk goods to all countries, for the year 1861, amounted to 333,310,066 francs, showing a falling off of 121,421,419 francs, as compared with 1860, and 166,578,789 francs, as compared with 1859.

The principal kinds of silk goods (exported from France to all countries) which have lost most in 1861 as compared with 1859, the year of greatest

This decrease falls very heavily on this district, where nearly all the goods above mentioned are manufactured; the ribbons in St. Etienne, the other goods in this city and vicinity.

Comparing the exports of French silks to the principal countries for 1859 with 1861, the total decrease in the exports is divided as follows:

United States.

England..

Francs.

.112, 901, 000

.40, 410 000

Belgium.

.6, 268, 000

Turkey
Brazil

...

..

The following countries have bought more in 1861 than in 1859:

Germany..

.3, 657, 000

.3, 203, 000

Francs.

..about 3, 550, 000

Italy...

Algiers..

.7, 325, 000

.4, 320, 000

..1, 000, 000

Switzerland.

The American crisis is evidently the cause of the decrease in the exports of French goods.

Statement of amount of French silk goods exported in 1859, 1860, and 1861.

Principal kinds of French silk goods exported to all countries.

The following is a comparative statement for the years 1859, 1860, and 1861, of the French exports of some articles to the United States.

Please find herewith enclosure containing reply of the director of the customs on the question of supplies to vessels-of-war in the United States duty free. This reply has been obtained after some delay, my first note to the préfet, and through him to the director, having been misapprehended. The enclosed I received in answer to a second letter, and after personal interviews with both the préfet and the chief of the customs.

LA ROCHELLE, December 18, 1862.

By your letter of the 12th, you have submitted to me the question whether, if a vessel-of-war of the United States of America should enter a port in the department of Charente Inferieure, the privilege would be granted her of purchasing duty free, at the entrepôt, such supplies as she might stand in need of.

Any vessel, whether merchantman or vessel-of-war, and without regard to its nationality, upon entering a French harbor, may obtain at the entrepôt any kind of foreign merchandise duty free, except fire-arms, powder, percussion caps, and other war machinery, it being a French law of long standing that such materials can neither leave nor enter French ports except under special license from the minister of war. A trifling duty, however, must be paid upon French merchandise, if such be the supplies demanded, most generally not exceeding twenty-five centimes the hundred kilogrammes, (the supplies being not war

materials.) Tonnage dues, I should add, must be paid in all cases; the rate varying according to flag: for American vessels, five francs the ton.

Where an American vessel-of-war, or merchant vessel, enters a French port through necessity, whether to escape bad weather or to obtain water, she is exempt from all custom-house duties, and from all tonnage duties. Nevertheless, were these vessels to land or receive merchandise, they would be subject to the ordinary regulations. Should you need further information, I will transmit it with promptness. Accept. I pray you, monsieur the consul, the expression of my very distinguished consideration.

THE DIRECTOR AUTIE.

Monsieur the CONSUL of the United States of America
for the Department of Charente Inferieure a la Rochelle.

COGNAC.-H. PINET, Consular Agent.

SEPTEMBER 29, 1862.

The trade of this district is altogether confined to the exportation of the produce of the vines after its conversion into brandy by distillation.

Not being a seaport, we have no import trade. This year during the American war the business between this district and the United States has been almost null; by the same cause the trade of this district with England has been very limited. On the whole, the American war causes much distress amongst our working class. The average price of an article has ruled from 190 to 200 francs per hogshead.

Our district being altogether a wine-growing country, I cannot report any progress in that branch of agriculture. The same way of cultivating the vine has existed for hundreds of years.

ROCHEFORT.-A. G. BRILLOMIE, Consular Agent.

OCTOBER 6, 1862.

The wine crop in 1862 may be considered as a half-middling one, superior to 1861 both in quality and quantity: 1861 had produced the third of an ordinary crop only-quality good. The spring frost and later two days of strong heat have caused the loss of the quarter of that crop this year.

The grains and other dry crops were, in 1861 and 1862, as follows:

In 1861: Corn, a crop; barley, one-sixth; oats, none; beans, none; oleaginous seeds, one-tenth; potatoes, fair and good. In 1862: Corn, barley, oats, beans, and oleaginous seeds, a mean crop; potatoes, fair and good.

Brandy.-1861 was a poor year for that brandy which had no sale outwards. In our country there is a rather large stock of the preceding years, but none or very little of 1861. This year very little wine will be distilled: its good quality will cause generally a great consumption.

NAPOLEON VENDÉE. THEODORE GEN, Consul.

MARCH 6, 1862.

The harbor of Sables d'Olonne is a very large one, built into the city at great expense, a further outlay being at present expended in deepening it to admit ships of the largest class. * * * It is to be regretted that no Ameri