It is noticeable that the imports of raw silk were high throughout the war, and amounted in 1918 to twice the 1912-13 average. The consumption of silk during the war has then increased, since the increased export of silk manufactures is a value increase, and the exports of yarn have fallen in 1917 and 1918 to a point below the imports for these years.

About 50 per cent of the imports of raw silk come from China and the balance from Italy, France, and Japan. Silk waste comes from China and Europe. Germany and Italy furnished about 85 per cent of the British imports of thrown silk in 1913. Imports of yarn were formerly largely from the Continent, but during the war receipts from Japan have increased from 40,837 pounds in 1913 to 240,522 pounds in 1916. The United States is the principal buyer of British silk yarns.

Although the British silk industry is important, it is small in comparison with the silk industries of the United States and France, as is shown by a comparison of the takings of raw silk. Of the world's total production of raw silk in 1913-24,584,000 pounds-the United States took 9,551,000 pounds, or nearly ten times the United Kingdom's raw silk imports for that year.

The wholesale value of silk goods annually consumed in the United Kingdom is estimated at £16,000,000, of which about 80 per cent is of foreign and 20 per cent of home manufacture. The principal item imported is broadstuffs, of which about 100,000,000 yards are received annually. The balance consists of ribbon, laces, etc. The trade in silk manufactures for the years 1912-1918 was as follows: THE UNITED KINGDOM'S TRADE IN SILKS.1

Annual (and Monthly) Statements of Trade of the United Kingdom.

These imports come largely from France, Switzerland, and Italy. The exports of British silks have a wide distribution; the United States and the British possessions take a large percentage, particularly of the mixed goods. France is the principal buyer of British pure silk broadstuffs.

The report of the British Departmental Committee on the Textile Trades advocates the use of tariffs to protect and develop the English industry, and further recommends that strenuous efforts be made to extend sericulture in India and South Africa, in order to develop supplies of raw material within the Empire.

OTHER TEXTILES.

The clothing trade should perhaps be mentioned in this connection. The output of the British industry is sufficient to meet domestic needs and to provide a considerable surplus for export. These exports are

widely distributed, the leading customers being South Africa, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Imports of special kinds of clothing were also large before the war and came principally from France, Germany, and Belgium. The following exhibits this trade for the years 1912-1918:

The clothing trade has naturally been hampered more by war conditions than the underlying textile industries. Civilian consumption has been curtailed and stereotyped by the restrictions necessary to insure uniforms to the armies.

There is a considerable trade in textile manufactures not included in any of the preceding sections. The United Kingdom imports embroidery and needlework each year with a value of about £3,000,000. About 80 per cent comes from Switzerland, and nearly 20 per cent came from Germany before the war. Another import not included elsewhere is "Paris" goods. The value of these goods received in 1912 was a little over £1,000,000. These goods came largely from Germany and France. About 10 per cent of the receipts are usually reexported. During the war this trade has fallen to less than half the normal level.

An important export of British manufacture not elsewhere included is oilcloth for floors, furniture, etc. Jute is probably the basis of most of this material. The exports of oilcloth in 1912 had a value of nearly £3,000,000. In 1918 the corresponding figure was £1,370,413. The quantities for the years 1912-1918 are as follows:

These goods are distributed very widely. The British possessions take about 50 per cent, and important quantities are sent to several European countries, to the United States, and to South America. Imports and reexports of oilcloths are relatively very small.

In 1912, 708,479 dozens of felt hats of British manufacture were exported, with a value of £1,268,643. This trade has also declined.

1 Annual (and Monthly) Statements of Trade of the United Kingdom.

In 1916 but 410,024 dozens were shipped. Imports of felt hats total less than 50 per cent of the exports in quantity or value.

The United Kingdom imports important quantities of hemp and cordage. Hemp comes largely from the Philippine Islands, New Zealand, India, and Russia. Cordage comes largely from Germany, Belgium, and Holland, except binder twine, of which over 90 per cent comes from the United States. Reexports of cordage are small, amounting to only about 25,000 hundredweights in 1913. The exports of British cordage are widely distributed, no two or three countries standing out in this traffic. The size of these exports is accounted for by the fact that jute, coir, and other materials as well as hemp are used in their manufacture. The following table shows the trade in hemp and cordage:

THE UNITED KINGDOM'S TRADE IN HEMP AND COrdage.1

1 Annual (and Monthly) Statements of Trade of the United Kingdom.

Other items of textile raw materials which might be mentioned are coir yarn and hair. The United Kingdom imports annually about 350,000 hundredweights of coir yarn from India and Ceylon. About 20 per cent of this importation is reexported. Imports of hair have a value of about £1,000,000 per year.

V. OTHER MANUFACTURES.

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY.

Of the total value of the United Kingdom's domestic exports, "articles wholly or mainly manufactured" accounted for about 80 per cent in 1913, and this ratio has been roughly maintained during the war. Of the value of all imports in 1913, nearly the same percentage (76 per cent) was represented by foodstuffs, raw materials, and articles mainly unmanufactured, and this percentage also has remained almost constant during the war. This comparison brings out sharply the essential nature of the United Kingdom's industrial activity. If the total of all exports is taken as a base in the first instance the comparison is somewhat less striking, as of the total reexports (£111,736,691 in 1912, for example) the classification articles wholly or mainly manufactured" comprised but 26 per cent. In other words, the reexport trade consists largely of colonial raw materials.

In the preceding chapter the data of production and trade for the textile group were discussed, and in the present chapter the other important industries will be considered. The industries of the United Kingdom (other than the textile trades) are so large and varied, however, that any detailed discussion of the same can not be given in this study. Only a very brief analysis of British manufactures, with special emphasis upon the trade situation and the effect of the war, will be attempted.

The following table shows the exports of British products, wholly or mainly manufactured, exclusive of textiles:

THE UNITED KINGDOM'S DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF ARTICLES WHOLLY OR MAINLY MANUFACTURED (EXCLUDING TEXTILES).2

1 Since pig iron, crude steel, and raw copper, lead, zinc, tin, etc., are included in the classification "articles wholly or mainly manufactured," the force of this comparison is somewhat lessened.

2 Annual (and Monthly) Statements of Trade of the United Kingdom.

3 Includes pig iron and crude steel.

4 Excluding machine tools.

5 Excluding machinery and uninsulated wire.

Including boots and shoes, hats, etc.

7 Excluding boots and shoes.

The above data show that, in spite of advancing prices, the value of the exports of manufactured articles has not been maintained during the war. Machinery, ships, wood manufactures, and other classes show very striking declines. The only item showing an important increase in "miscellaneous.” This heading probably includes the trade in arms and ammunition. In 1917 the exports of arms and ammunition of British manufacture are reported in the official statistics as totaling £31,321,611. This figure compares with less than £5,000,000 in 1913. As might be expected, the trade in engineering products and other manufactures shown in the above table has suffered more severely during the war than the trade in textiles, which, as was shown in the last chapter, increased in total values, although there were significant losses in quantities in most cases. This situation is due in large measure to the fact that the equipment devoted to manufacturing machinery, vehicles, etc., was practically conscripted for war purposes because of the comparative ease with which such equipment could be adapted to the manufacture of munitions.

The imports of manufactured and partly manufactured articles are much smaller than the corresponding export trade, totaling in 1913, for example, about £147,000,000, exclusive of textiles. The following table shows this trade, in summary, for the period 1912–

1918:

THE UNITED KINGDOM'S IMPORTS OF ARTICLES WHOLLY OR MAINLY MANUFACTURED (EXCLUDING TEXTILES).1

1 Annual (and Monthly) Statements of Trade of the United Kingdom.

2 Excluding machine tools.

3 Other than machinery and uninsulated wire.

4 Including boots and shoes, hats, etc.

5 Excluding boots and shoes.

As far as values are concerned, this trade has increased considerably in the case of nonferrous metals and manufactures thereof, machinery, and vehicles, and noticeably in the case of chemicals and miscellaneous items. In this case also arms and ammunition are probably included as miscellaneous. The total imports of arms and ammunition in 1917 are reported as having a value of £52,397,848. The reexports of manufactures are comparatively unimportant, as