TASMANIA Tasmania, an island lying to the south of Victoria, from which it is separated by Bass Strait, is the smallest of the Australian states. It consists in part of a much dissected plateau, the average height of which is about 3,500 feet, though in places it rises to over 5,000 feet ; and in part of plains which surround the plateau and are broken up by numerous mountain ranges. The whole of the west and north-west of the island consists of lower Palaeozoic rocks, through which various eruptive masses have in later times made their way and frequently weathered down into fertile soil. In the east and south-east Carboniferous rocks prevail.
Tasmania, lying further to the south than the continent to which it belongs, is exposed to the full force of the westerly winds. The west coast and the plateau, accordingly, have a heavy rainfall, which varies from 40 to 60 inches and even more ; while in the more sheltered eastern part of the island the precipitation does not, as a rule, exceed 30 inches, except along the coast, where it is somewhat greater. In the wetter districts the land is covered with warm temperate rain-forest, but in the drier parts vegetation is of the savanna type.
Agriculture, pastoral farming, and mining are the chief occupa tions of the inhabitants. The most important agricultural areas lie, either immediately to the east of the plateau, or in the north west, the former being more important for wheat, and the latter for oats. Fruit-growing is carried on mainly in the south and south east. Sheep are pastured on the drier lands of the eastern half of the island, more especially in the midlands, while cattle are reared in all the settled districts.
Mining operations are carried on principally in the west. Copper is obtained at Mount Lyell, north of Macquarie Harbour, and elsewhere ; silver-lead ores at Zeehan, Dundas, and other places north of Mount Lye11 ; and tin at Mount Bischoff in the north west. The chief coal deposits are found in the Carboniferous region in the east, the most productive area at the present time being around Fingal, in the valley of the South Esk.
The two largest towns are Hobart, the capital, on the Derwent, twelve miles from its mouth, and Launceston, the chief commercial centre, on the Tamar, not far from the head of its estuary. These
towns are connected by rail with one another, and with the coal fields of the east and the mineral districts of the west and north-west.
COMMERCE.—The overseas trade of Australia, which is of growing importance, is mainly, though not to the same extent as formerly, . with the United Kingdom. During the years 1887-91,75 per cent. of the exports of Australia were sent to, and 70 per cent. of the imports came from, the mother country. These figures had fallen to 48 per cent. and 60 per cent. respectively for the period 1906-10. On the other hand, both Germany and the United States had con siderably improved their position. There are several reasons for this relative decline in the share of the trade belonging to the United Kingdom. With the development of American and German shipping in the Pacific, it is probable that much of the trade of these countries with the Commonwealth, which was formerly indirect, is now direct, and only natural that it should be considerably aug mented in amount. Again, the decline in the exports of Australia to Great Britain is largely due to the fact that wool, which formerly went to London for distribution to France, Belgium, and Germany, is now exported to these countries without the intervention of London.
Of the exports of Australia the most important are wool and minerals, including gold, silver, copper, and tin, while dairy produce, frozen and preserved meats, wheat, and fruit make up the bulk of the remainder. The first place among the imports is held by textiles and wearing apparel, in the supply of which Great Britain has the lead. This is also the case with regard to machinery and manufactured metals, which come next in the list of imports. In both classes of goods, however, there is considerable competition from Germany and the United States. Among other imports are tropical and sub-tropical products, paper, wood, and liquors (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).