Weights and measures.-Metric system. Population.-Population of Christiania on December 31, 1909, 241,000; of Norway on September 30, 1908, 2,345,700. Principal Industries. Iron foundries; engine works; ship owning and building; brewing; rope works; cotton and wool factories; chocolate, margarine and steel works; manufacture of telephone ap paratus; match factories Ship owning and building; tinned goods factories; export of fish Wood goods; paper; chemical and mechanical wood-pulp; ship owning Ship owning and building; paper and pulp works; export of fish Ship owning and building; export of dressed timber; brick works Export of dressed timber; ship owning; export of granite; match factory Ship owning; wood goods; mechanical woodpulp Ship owning; whaling and sealing Ship owning; whaling; export of herrings timber Flour mills; tinned goods; chemical pulp; Export of wood goods and ice; potteries minerals Kragerö... 4,900 Egersund 3,000 Flekkefjord 2,050 Risör 3,900 Mandal Bergen ... Trondhjem Aalesund 14,000 Christianssund ... 13,085 Tromsö ... 7,950 Bodö Narvik 4,500 Iron ore export 2,700 Fish export Split codfish and fish products Whaling and sealing in the Arctic Ocean Fishing, whaling and sealing Fish and timber trade NOTE.-British Consular officers reside at each of the foregoing with the exception of Aalesund and Narvik. Reference to previous Report, Annual Series No. 4278. Report on the Trade and Commerce of Norway for the Year 1909 General review. The trade and commerce of Norway for the year 1909 shows a decided improvement as compared with 1908. The freight market, however, was in a bad state all through the year and, in consequence, the shipbuilding yards have not done well. In spite of low rates, several steamers of large tonnage. were ordered in the United Kingdom by Norwegian shipowners. The hay crops gave more than the average yield and a considerable export of hay took place during the latter months of 1909; the corn crops, however, were below the average. The fisheries yielded above the average and the prices obtained, especially for fat herrings, were better than during the preceding years. Floating dock at Christiania.-A new floating dock, built for the Nylands Mekaniske Værksted, Christiania, was launched at Sandefjord on June 3, 1909. The dock has a length of 320 feet and a lifting capacity of 8,000 tons. Mr. Vice-Consul Stolt-Nielsen of Haugesund reports that the Haugesunds Mekaniske Værksted is constructing a patent slip capable of taking vessels of 1,200 tons burden. Port improvement at Porsgrund.-The works for widening and deepening the river between Torsberg (at the entrance of the Porsgrund River) and Graaten (just below Skien) have been progressing very satisfactorily during the year 1909. It is expected that by the end of June, 1910, there will be 22 feet at lowest level, 25 to 26 feet at mean and 28 feet at highest level. In about two years' time these depths will also apply to Skien. By the cutting away of a considerable part of the deposit of sand called Molhaugen (just outside the western boundary of Porsgrund) and by blasting a portion of the sunken rock named Risebaaen, situated abreast of Molhaugen, this passage, which used formerly to cause some trouble to shipping, particularly in the month of June, when the current as a rule is at its strongest, has now been greatly facilitated. Shipping. Norwegian mercantile fleet.-According to the Norwegian Veritas Class Register for 1910, the Norwegian mercantile marine at the close of the year 1909 consisted of 1,304 steamers, with a net tonnage of 860,268 tons, and 784 sailing vessels, with a net tonnage of 600,166 |