... ... Fr. c. ... 0 to 1 25 1 1 25 0 10 0 30 0 40 0 43 First distance, per ton register Unless otherwise stipulated by charter party or bill of lading, time counts for steamships two hours after arrival; sailing vessels next day after arrival. † Plus 3 per cent. for pilot major. For steamships half these charges. Imports. Coal.-There is an increase of 64,753 tons of coal over the year 1912, and the export of iron ore hence has brought about a contract for 10,000 tons, imported as a return cargo from the Netherlands. This import should increase, as besides the supply for the railway company, this port serves the Departments of Ille et Vilaine, Côtes du Nord, Manche partly, Mayenne and Sarthe, with a part of Morbihan, Finistère, Loire Inferieure, and Maine-et-Loire, communication existing over the Ouest-État line, tramways d'Ille et Vilaine, canal d'Ille et Rance to Rennes direct, with waterways to both Nantes and Brest, the facilities by means of light railways increasing yearly. Coke. Coke is imported exclusively from Jersey where, owing to much of the cooking being done with gas stoves, there is generally a surplus for export, freights being from 4 to 5 fr. (3s. 2d. to 4s.) per English ton. Pitch. The increase is due to the extension of the manufacture of patent fuel, a good many pellets being used in private houses in this district. In regard to other imports, it may be said that any expansion is due to fluctuating demand. For years there has always been a constant importation of a large variety of articles, which, wherever the trade is carefully worked up tends to increase, British goods always holding their place for quality; but I cannot help thinking that if the hard and fast rules as to payments were a little modified, sales to French people would increase generally, especially if men speaking the language fluently canvassed the different centres carefully, and were permitted to supply a small order so as to create a trade. I am often told by small people that they cannot take the quantity the traveller offers. Exports.-Exports of produce hence have been fairly maintained in 1913, and where local produce has in any way failed this deficiency has been amply compensated for by supplies from other centres. A regular and accelerated train and boat service would no doubt greatly increase exports both in weight and quality, as lengthy train services, together with several handlings, do not improve the quality. Vegetables. Already the more tender vegetables are packed in smaller packages, but nevertheless need care in the handling when sent from the interior. These exports included in the year 1913, in addition to cauliflowers and broccoli, 775 tons of tomatoes, 5 tons green peas, 12 tons of lettuces, 51 tons of carrots. Fruit. The fruit export consisted of, in addition to apples, 1,500 tons of pears, 500 tons of blackberries, 109 tons of plums, 16 tons of cherries, 300 tons of currants, 26 tons of strawberries, and 3 tons of gooseberries, but these last have fallen off somewhat of late years, when they were exported green for pies and tarts. Potatoes. The early potatoes for markets in France and the United Kingdom were remunerative to farmers in this locality. The export of the crop gives considerable activity to this port, and prices paid in the United Kingdom having been good, the sale in France was not so large, although the railway company had provided a good number of railway trucks in anticipation of the extension of the trade with Paris and elsewhere. The town received the market tax for 32,149 cartloads which entered, amounting to 6,324 fr. 40 c., and the districts of Dol-de-Bretagne and Pleudihen put the crop of 1913 on the St. Malo market for export, which was not the case in 1912. The St. Malo" Giant" is a good potato, and keeps well, especially if grown without artificial manure, but the object being to get an early crop of good size, farmers use now a large quantity of chemical manure in addition to a winter dressing of farmyard and seaweed manure. Chestnuts.-Chestnuts yielded a fair crop, although not quite so full a crop as expected; the quality, however, was very good. Slate. Slate exports have diminished, but, I am told, not on account of the strikes which have taken place in Anjou, but from the fact that the demand for France has been considerable, leaving no surplus for export except from time to time. Mineral.-Mineral, being iron ore from near Barenton, Manche, has been again exported to the Netherlands, the mining and transport being carried out by the same Dutch firm, viâ both Caen and St. Malo. Concessions have been asked for in the Department of Ille et Vilaine as stated in the report for 1912 of this Vice-Consular district, but only surface ore has been extracted, and preliminary surveys made, although in a note lately published by the St. Malo Chamber of Commerce it is stated that a firm had undertaken to export 100,000 tons per annum, which might increase to 500,000 tons later on. Industries.-The Newfoundland fishing trade employed : 99,782 tons of codfish, 402 tons of other fish, and 293 tons of oil, &c., being imported for local use, the remainder having been delivered at Bordeaux direct from the Newfoundland banks. Importations for the use of the above vessels consisted of : The total imports for this trade amounted to 16,841 tons, while 15,686 tons of salt of French origin were put on board this fleet. The fishing was good in the early part of the year, but in the month of June bait became scarce, so that, although the season was better than that of 1912, it was not so good a season as expected. The steamship "Louisiane" left St. Malo on March 20, 1913, with 697 seamen for St. Pierre-Miquelon, being the necesssary complement for manning the colonial ships, which apparently diminish in number yearly. Coasting trade. The coasting trade has employed during the year Freights are good, and cargo in great variety :— With a total of 65,561 tons for the year 1913. Goods in transit, 854 tons. Shipbuilding. Shipbuilding is carried on in the River Rance, but has ceased at St. Malo, except for small craft and launches. Industries.-At St. Servan there is a ships' biscuit factory, with mill attached, doing good work for the fishing fleet, the machinery being of British make. A rope walk also exists as St. Malo, but appears to have considerable competition from other centres. Shoemaking.-Shoemaking is carried on at Dol-de-Bretagne, and at Fougères about 10,000 men are employed in this trade, amongst whom, in 1913, one or two strikes have taken place. Tanning-Tanning is carried on at St. Malo, Rennes, Montreuil-s.-Ille, Vitré, Redon, St. Meen, Montfort-s.-Meu and other places in the Department. Milling.-Milling takes place at St. Malo (two mills), Rennes (five mills), Montreuil-s.-Ille, Tremblay, Bazouges-la-Perouse, Antrain, Plélan-le-Grand, and other places. Foundries.-Foundries exist at Dol and at Rennes, and at St. Malo on a small scale, however. Brushes.-Brushes are made at Rennes, and there is a vinegar factory at Betton, near Rennes. Communication.-This port serves the Departments of Ille et Vilaine, Côtes du Nord, Manche (in a measure), Mayenne, Sarthe, Morbihan, and partly Finistère, Loire Inférieure, and Maine et Loire, both as to import and export, being connected both by rail, canal and light railways. Tramways.-The lines Vitré-St. Brice-en-Cogles, and Vitré-Liffré, as also St. Briac-Le Guildo are under consideration; the last named will be useful to the locality, both Dinard and St. Malo, as it will connect the present line, Dinard-St. Briac, with the Department of the Côtes du Nord, opening up the coast for visitors. Railways.-The double line of rails between Rennes and St. Malo is now completed. A new line is in contemplation between Cancale and La Gouesnière, with a branch to the port known as La Houle, and will most probably be commenced during the next year. Public works. Harbour improvements.-The harbour quay-Quai St. Louis has been levelled, but is not as yet completed, although the quay itself has been re-built, and two travelling cranes, of British manufacture, have been placed thereon. The harbour, near the locks, has been dredged during 1913, and one more steam crane erected on the coal wharf at St. Malo. The masonry of the dry dock has been commenced, but the progress will be slow seeing the nature of the work. In my report for the year 1911 (contained in No. 4884 Annual Series) I gave the outline of a scheme for the deepening of, not only the harbour itself, but for making a channel of sufficient depth to permit the steamships belonging to the London and South Western Railway to enter and leave at fixed hours every day, and thus enable passengers to profit by fast steamers, which at present often have to wait for the tide or land the passengers in motor boats. This service, and an accelerated train service with the various centres, will, it is hoped, greatly add to the passenger traffic, St. Malo-Paris in six hours and St. Malo-Bordeaux in eight hours being now in contemplation. The Chamber of Commerce publishes a note in which the return of passengers for the year 1870 is given as 11,000, goods passing through at 182,000 tons, and the tonnage of ships at 420,000 tons; while in 1910 the passengers numbered 50,000, the goods passing through at 559,000 tons, and the tonnage of vessels frequenting the two docks at 738,000 tons register, and showing an augmented tonnage of 16 per cent., and goods at 24 per cent., between 1910-13. All these figures, in regard to agricultural produce especially, depend in a great measure upon a regular service between St. Malo and Southampton. An accelerated train service would place the whole district, as well as the Touraine, whence a good deal of produce already reaches this port, within easy distance of British markets. The Minister of Public Works, after visiting St. Malo-St. Servan, has approved the scheme, recommending as a beginning the deepening of the harbour, and thus by degrees completing the whole improvement. Thus the dock contemplated could receive vessels drawing 22 feet, whereas at present ships of 1,500 to 2,000 tons burden can only enter on spring tides, the present docks having been constructed to receive vessels of from 500 to 1,000 tons burden. It often happens, in consequence, that a ship carrying 2,000 tons, if delayed by weather, has to bring up in the roadstead for days before entering. The above-mentioned projects are actually under the consideration of the engineers of the Ponts et Chaussées, but the execution of the work must take some time; meanwhile those interested are agitating for certain repairs to the lock gates of the present docks so as to be able to continue the actual trade without interruption. Agriculture. The Association Bretonne held its congress at St. Servan in 1913, bringing together a great many of those interested in the farmers' welfare; on the whole there is improvement in the stock of this part of France, and some very good crops are grown, but the cultivation hereabouts lacks tidiness and care, for the climate and most of the land are good. |