Imports and domestic exports for 1908 and 1909 (preliminary).

In 1909 the United Kingdom imported 41,650,445 cwt. of wheat from other parts of the Empire and 56,204,380 cwt. from foreign countries. The great wheat sources were :

Wheat flour imported 1909, 11,052,540 cwt., of which 6,929,011 from the United States.

Total

.

308,409 321,190 317,127 323,469 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

The subjoined tables exhibit the value of the great articles of commerce imported for consumption and home produce exported in each of the last three years:

THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF IMPORT.

THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF EXPORT (HOME PRODUCE).

Quantity of the principal food imports, tobacco, spirits (British and foreign) and beer (British) retained for home consumption per head of population:

:

The total value of goods transhipped under bond was: 1904, 13,667,2377.; 14,318,2037.; 1906, 16,311,5187.; 1907, 18,824,4737.; 1908,

1905, 15,969,0867.

Shipping and Navigation.

Vessels registered as belonging to the United Kingdom at the end of each year :

1,802,667 10,370 8,751,853
1,670,766 10,522 9,064,816
1,555,319 10,907 9,612,013 20,764
1,461,376 11,394 10,023,723 21,042 11,485,099
1,402,781 11,626 10,138,613 21,168 11,541,394

20,580 10,554,520

20,581

10,735,582

11,167,332

The total number of vessels belonging to the British Empire in 1908 was 38,608, of 13,263,354 tons net (sailing tonnage, 2,283,063; steam tonnage, 10,980,291).

Vessels built in the United Kingdom (exclusive of vessels built for the Royal Navy and for foreigners) ::