Hitherto the British producer and merchant have risen superior to difficulties; ground lost in one direction has been gained in another, while competition has served as a stimulus to greater exertion, and in spite of fluctuations and temporary depressions, the volume of Brit ish trade has steadily increased; and this fact gives strong support to the view that the energy and adaptability of the United Kingdom, alike in the spheres of industry and commerce, are as yet far from reaching a limit.
The following statistical tables give a gen eral view of the progress of British trade for 10 normal ) ears.
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The average share per head of population in net imports (i.e., total imports less re-exports) for the same decade was distributed as follows: 1904— 54 t .16; 1905 19061:7.98; 1907— .80; 1908— 55.86; 1909— 57.52; 1910— 61.40; 1911— 1.18; 1912— 7.94; 1913— .74.
The principal imports on which customs duties are levied are beer and spruce, chic ory, cocoa,• coffee, dried fruits, motor spirits, spirits, sugar, tea, tobacco and wine—spirits, sugar, tobacco, tea and wine yielding the bulk of the entire levies, about $170,000,000 per year.
Volume of The source of all ordinary information as to British is the 'Annual Statement of Trade with Foreign Countries and British Possessions,' supplemented by the 'Annual Statement of Navigation and Shipping) The chief defect in the series is that until 1904 the figures rep resented ports from and to which the goods are shipped, and not countries of origin or ultimate destination. In other words, British trade relations, particularly with certain Euro pean countries, are entirely misrepresented. A supplementary volume is now issued which at tempts to get at the real facts of the case.
Exports and Imports, Distribution and Much valuable information as to the historical growth of British trade can be gath ered from the 'Report of the Royal Commis sion on Trade Depression' (1886), supple mented by Parliamentary papers. The Parlia mentary paper, 'Food Supplies Imported 1870 1902' (No. 179, 1903), gives in detail the changes in the sources of supplies in the period. The 'Report of the Royal Commission on Food Supply in Time of War' contains much miscel laneous information as to sources of imports, including raw materials.