The following are the statistics of the beetroot sugar manufacture in the Zollgebiet: In 1914-15 the amount of beetroot used was 10,211,823 metric tons; in 1915-16, 7,681,676 metric tons; in 1916-17 6,560,097 metric tons; in 191718, 6,437,809 metric tons. The Beer-excise district (Brausteuergebiet) includes all the States of the Zollgebiet, except Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, and Alsace-Lorraine. The total number of active breweries in the Beer-excise district was in 1913, 3,786. The amount brewed per head of the population in 1913 was in gallons:-the Excise district, 17; Bavaria, 59; Württemberg, 36; Baden, 33; Alsace-Lorraine, 17; the entire Zollgebiet, 23 gallons. In 1914, there were 53,448 distilleries in operation, which produced 84,575,480 gallons of alcohol. In 1913, 556,840 juvenile workers were employed in Germany, 376,481 being males and 180,359 females. In addition 8,008 boys and 6,158 girls (total 14,166) under 14 years of age were employed. Commerce. The commerce of Germany is under the administration and guidance of special laws and rules, emanating from the Zollverein, or Customs Union, which, since March 1, 1906, embraces practically the whole of the States of Germany and the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, as also the Austrian communes of Jungholz and Mittelberg. A few districts in Baden (3,863 inhabitants), on the Swiss frontier; the Island of Helgoland; the four Free Havens of Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Geestemunde, and Cuxhaven; and the extra-customs territory of Bremen and Emden, still remain unincluded. The commercial statistics, however, exclude only the commerce of the island of Helgoland and the districts in South Raden. Population of the entire Wirtschaftsgebiet (commercial unit) in 1910, 65,157,115. Since 1879 Germany has been protectionist in her commercial policy. Of the total imports in 1913, the value of 235,398,700l. was subject to duty, and 303,085,6007. duty-free (exclusive of the precious metals). The duties levied amounted to 44,263,500l., or 19 per cent. of the value of the imports subject to duty. The following table shows (in pounds sterling) the special trade for six years :- 1 First 6 months. No further statistics concerning German trade have been published 19141 269,314,000 since the outbreak of war. The following are the principal details of the special commerce for the years 1912 and 1913 (20 marks = £1). In Germany, the average value of most imported articles is fixed annually, under the direction of the Imperial Statistical Office, by a commission of experts. Since April 1, 1911, the value of all exports and of 61 imports is declared. The price fixed is that of the goods at the moment of crossing the frontier. For imports the price does not include Customs duties, cost of transport, insurance, warehousing, &c., incurred after the frontier is passed. For exports, the price includes all charges within the territory, but drawbacks and bounties are not taken into account. The quantities are determined according to obligatory declarations, and, for imports, the fiscal authorities may actually weigh the goods. For packages, an official tare is deducted. The countries whence goods are imported, and the ultimate destination of exports are registered. The imports of gold (coined and in bars) in 1913 amounted to 19,108,7501.; of silver coined and in bars), to 2,710,9501.; the exports of goll amounted to 3,051,6007.: of silver to 2,017,000l. Some of the leading imports and exports under the above heads were, in thousands of marks value, as follows in 1912 and 1913 in millions of marks : The special commerce by countries of the "Deutsches Zollgebiet " (since March 1, 1906, "Deutsches Wirtschaftsgebiet ") was mainly distributed as follows in 1912 and 1913: The following table shows the amount of the commercial intercourse between Germany and the United Kingdom in five years, according to the Board of Trade Returns: SHIPPING AND NAVIGATION 905 Principal articles imported into the United Kingdom from, and exported from the United Kingdom to Germany : 762,791 885,961 622,371 7,310,910 8,036,015 8,338,486 7,797,200 4,984,203 Herrings. Machinery Coal, coke, &c. New ships, &c. 118,883 327,903 The ports of Hamburg and Bremen were the chief gates of commercial ntercourse of Germany with the United Kingdom and the United States. Shipping and Navigation. The following was the distribution of the mercantile navy of Germany (only ships of more than 17 65 tons gross-tonnage) on January 1, 1914 :— Of the total shipping on January 1, 1914, 2,329 of 318,646 tons; 1913, 2,284 of 298,584 tons; 1912, 2,260 of 312,713 tons belonged to Prussian ports. The total number of sailors required for manning the ships of the merchant navy was, on January 1, 1914, 83,898; January 1, 1913, 77,746; 1912, 75,130. The size of the various ships in 1914 was as follows: Of the sailing vessels 1,481 were totally of iron or steel; of the steamers 2,159 were of iron or steel. Built in German private yards, 1913, 936 vessels of 523,733 tons gross (including 22 war vessels of 55,860 tons gross). Of these, 179 of 38,249 tons gross (including 9 war vessels of 2,240 tons gross) were built for foreigners. Built in foreign yards for Germans, 103 trading vessels of 42,267 tons gross. Shipping of the German Empire, in which each vessel, if it entered several ports on a single voyage, is counted only once : 1912Entered. Cleared. 1913 With Cargoes In Ballast Number Net tonnage Number Net tonnage Number Total Net tonnage 101,915 29,763,394 12,492 2,778,064 114,407 32,541,458 83,635 22,066,632 30,296 11,540,021 113,931 32,606,653 Entered. 102,553 31,783,761 13,413 5,988,416 115,966 34,772,177 Cleared. 88,057 23,832,113 29,318 11,089,693 117,375 34,921,806 Internal Communications. I. RAILWAYS. In 1913 there were 3,168 miles of tramway, and 6,923 miles Kleinbahnen.' The length of railway line of normal and narrow gauge respectively belonging to each of the State systems, and the length of private line, were as follows on December 31, 1916: |