Ports. The principal ports are Bastia and Ajaccio; the ports of Calvi, Ile Rousse, Porto Vecchio, Propriano and Bonifacio being only of importance in the coasting trade. Climate. Ajaccio is sheltered by lofty hills on the north-east and south-east. The mean winter temperature (52°) is about 3° higher than that of the Riviera, more equable and the air drier. Owing to the granitic nature of the soil there is not much dust. Houses.-Houses are scarce and expensive; rents 150l. to 2007. There are very few at the summer resort of Vizzavona, where the rents are 401. for a villa of six rooms during the period of three months. At Vizzavona there are two hotels. Reference to previous Report, Annual Series No. 5287. Report on the Trade of Corsica for the Year 1914 By MR. ACTING VICE-CONSUL BÉZERT. Total trade with the United Kingdom.-Trade with the United Kingdom shows a general decrease, due to the present war. There is, however, an increased import of coals at the port of Bastia, owing to the consumption of gas coal having now reached about 3,000 tons yearly as against 1,200 to 1,500 tons three or four years back. The figures for 1914 are as follows: The figures for the last three years are given below: PRINCIPAL Imports from the United Kingdom to the Port of Ajaccio during the Year 1914 (in Transit viâ Marseilles). Exports.-There has been no direct trade during the year under report between Ajaccio and the United Kingdom, PRINCIPAL Imports from the United Kingdom to the Port of Bastia during the Year 1914. PRINCIPAL Exports from the Port of Bastia to the United Kingdom during the Year 1914. Shipping.-There is a large decrease in the number of vessels frequenting the port as compared with previous years. This is due (1) to the mail and passenger service having been reduced to three weekly sailings since the outbreak of the war, as against eight weekly sailings previous to the war; (2) to the embargo placed by the French Government on charcoal, which was shipped to Italy by sailing vessels at the rate of three or four per week; and (3) to most of the sailing vessels trading between Bastia and the French and Italian ports being idle. The following figures are appended for comparison : Twenty British steamers with a net tonnage of 21,514 tons loaded in the port during 1914 taking cargo for London, Liverpool, Manchester, Garston, Runcorn and Warrington. -- Total trade. The total imports and exports for 1914 amounted to 38,484 tons as against 103,618 tons in 1913. The following list shows the amount of various goods imported and exported : |