DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR BUREAU OF MANUFACTURES JOHN M. CARSON, Chief CONSULAR REPORTS-ANNUAL SERIES No. 3 PANAMA TRADE FOR THE YEAR 1907 JUNE, 1908 lUTED REPRINTED/ "©{RECTOR WASHINGTON, D. j THE INTERN AMERIC JOHN BARRE No. 2 JACKSON PLACE 4TES WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1908 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR BUREAU OF MANUFACTURES JOHN M. CARSON, Chief CONSULAR REPORTS — ANNUAL SERIES No. 3 PANAMA TRADE FOR THE YEAR 1907 JUNE, 1908 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1908 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Columbia University Libraries https://archive.org/details/consularreportsOOunit CONTENTS. Page. Letter of submittal - 5 Review of trade conditions: Panama City — Cable service and transportation facilities 7 Sanitary conditions — "Wild and cultivated products — Mining 8 Import duties and currency — Lands opened to the public 9 Commerce of the Republic 10 Classification of exports to the United States 10 Colon — Exports to the United States 11 Steamship service discontinued — Coal receipts 11 Increased freight traffic— Navigation statistics 12 Municipal and other improvements 13 Local business depression — Advice to American salesmen 13 Bocas del Toro agency — Exports to the United States 14 Purchases from the United States and Europe 14 Local improvements — Railway building 15 New liber discovery — Marine statistics. 15 3 LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Manufactures, Washington, June 1, 1908. Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a review of the trade conditions in the Republic of Panama, as transmitted by the con- sular officers at Panama, Colon, and Bocas del Toro. With a miscel- laneous population of about 300,000 the Republic is rapidly develop- ing, as shown by these reports. Panama City, within one year, has improved greatly and now has water, sewerage, and many new buildings, and the same is true to a considerable extent of Colon. The health conditions are reported to be very greatly improved. As to the import trade of the Republic, the United States should supply a larger percentage of it, and probably will do so in the near future. Suggestions as to what should be done in that direction will be found in the reports herewith given. Respectfully, John M. Carson, Chief oj Bureau. To Hon. Oscar S. Straus, Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 5 COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OE PANAMA. REVIEW OF TRADE CONDITIONS. By Consul-General Arnold Shanklin, Panama City. The Republic of Panama lies between 7° 15' and 9° north latitude, and 77° and 82° west longitude, from Greenwich; has an area of about 31,500 square miles and a population of about 300,000, com- posed of Panamanians, Indians, Americans, French, English, Ger- mans, Italians, and Chinese. The length of the Republic is about 400 miles; at its widest point it is 160 miles, but only 35 to 40 miles at its narrowest point. Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, the first President of the Republic of Panama, is still in office. The other officials include three designates or vice-presidents, and secretaries of Government and Justice, Foreign Relations, Finance, Fomento, and Education. The laws are made by a single body of delegates elected from the seven provinces of Panama, Colon, Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Los Santos, Veraguas, and Code. Each province has a governor and other officials, and each city, town, or pueblo lias its alcalde or mayor, and the usual officials. The largest cities and towns, with estimated population, are: Panama, the capital, 35,000; Colon, 15,000; David, 8,000; Bocas del Toro, 3,000; Santiago de Veraguas, 1,200. Improvements in the capital city since November, 1905, have included street pavements, waterworks, and a sewerage system. The present is in marked contrast with the old city of two and one- half years ago. The great amount of building in progress is one proof of its advancement. Rents are A T ery high and houses scarce. Heretofore the two-story house was the rule, but now all good build- ings have three stories and some of them four. Arrangements are being made to build a street railway, but as vet transportation is by coach. CABLE SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. The cable service has been much improved within the past few months because of the Central and South American Company having completed its direct Panama-New York line. A message has been transmitted from Panama City to New York City in one-half minute after receipt at the delivery window. The same company has also a line via Galveston; and the West India and Panama Telegraph Com- pany has a line via Jamaica and Habana. With the new direct Panama-New York line in operation the tariff has been lowered from 69 cents to 50 cents per word. 8 COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF PANAMA. Transportation by rail on the Isthmus has been greatly improved during the past year, and both passenger and freight traffic is heavy. There are three regular steamship companies which make the Pacific side a division point, viz, the Pacific Mail Company (American), between Panama and San Francisco; the Compania Sud Americana (Chilean), between Panama and Valparaiso, Chile; and the Pacific Steam Navigation Company (English), between Panama and Callao, Peru. Besides these many others touch irregularly. On the Atlantic side five steamship companies arrive regularly at Cristobal and Colon: The Panama Railroad Steamship Line (American), weekly service between Cristobal and New York; the Hamburg-American Line (German), and the Royal Mail Steam Packet 'Company (English), each a biweekly service between Colon and New Y ork, via Jamaica and other points; the United Fruit Company Line, weekly service be- tween Colon and New Orleans, via Costa Rica; the Leyland and Harrison Line, trimonthly service from Colon to New Orleans, via Jamaica. There are also French, Spanish, and various other lines which make irregular visits at the port of Colon. The total number of passengers carried by the Panama Railroad during the past four years was as follows: 113,790 in 1904, 217,930 in 1905, 44S,230 in 1906, and 882,277 in 1907. The number of tons of freight handled in each year was 414,649 in 1904, 482,262 in 1905, 665,711 in 1906, and 936.346 in 1907. SANITARY CONDITIONS — WILD AND CULTIVATED PRODUCTS — MINING. Health conditions here are as nearly perfect as could be. The total death rate of Americans on the Canal Zone and in Panama during 1907 was 9.76 per 1,000, while the death rate from diseases was but 6.74 per 1,000, about the same as would occur among a similar body of people in Washington or any other part of the United States. The hospital service in the Canal Zone and Panama is among the finest in existence. Panama contains an area of about 21,000,000 acres and has less than 100,000 acres under cultivation. Any fruit or vegetable or product will grow here that can be grown elsewhere with the same climatic conditions. Truck gardens, cared for almost altogether by Chinese, furnish the great part of supplies for the Panamanians and the canal employees. Coffee is grown to some extent in Panama and could be cultivated to good advantage; cocoanuts prove a valuable product, the ship- ments in 1907 amounting to about 875,000; cotton is grown in a small ay ay and is found wild in some sections; oranges, lemons, and limes are produced in great quantities and need but little care, and in many sections they grow wild. Bananas are extensively grown, and the yield is one of the largest in the world. Rubber is found growing wild on land along the coast to about 2,000 feet above sea level. It is estimated that there are about 1,000,000 rubber trees in Panama, and the rubber exports during the past three years aver- aged about 200,000 pounds, valued at $120,000. Cattle raising has proved to be a very profitable business, especially in the districts bordering on Costa Rica, where there is plenty of Avat el- and fine grazing, but the small farmer can not realize fully the benefits for the reason that he can not bring his cattle to market on foot, there COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF PANAMA. 9 being no trails across the country, and he can sell only to those who are able to ship by vessels; and this business is virtually controlled, under a concession, by a few men. Chickens are not raised in any great numbers, and are sold at much higher prices than in the United States. Eggs yield an unusually large return in Panama, selling the year round from 60 to 80 cents United States currency per dozen, and at these prices the local market is not in any degree well supplied. Mining is not carried on to any great extent in the Republic, although the foothills bear strong traces of gold, silver, copper, and man- ganese, and many of the streams make placer mining profitable. Only one gold-mining property has been developed to any extent in the Republic. IMPORT DUTIES AND CURRENCY — LANDS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC. On merchandise imported into Panama there is an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent charged, the exceptions being as follows: Coffee, per 100 pounds, $4 gold; matches, per 2.2 pounds, 15 cents; salt, per 100 pounds, $1; champagne, per liter (liter = 1.0567 quarts), $1; spark- ling wines, per liter, 50 cents; sherry, port, and Malaga wines, per liter, 10 cents; white wines and claret, per liter, 5 cents; vermuth, per liter, 10 cents; rum, brandy, gin, and whisky, per liter, 75 cents; alcohol, 42 grades, per liter, 50 cents; and when more than 42 grades, 75 cents; liqueurs, all kinds, per liter, $1; bitters, per liter, 30 cents; beer and ale of ail kinds, per liter, 10 cents; and mineral waters and medicinal wines, 25 per cent ad valorem. Articles on the free list are: Machines for making roads, cars, mate- rial for railroads, telegraph machinery, boilers, iron bridges, machines weighing not more than 2,204 pounds, coal, minerals, plants, seeds, shoots, sprigs of vine, guano, ice, animals for breeding purposes, boats for use in the waters of the Republic and material for their construc- tion, books sent through the mails, and printing, bookbinding, and lithographing materials. The currency of the Republic is based upon the balboa, a gold dollar of the value of 100 cents of United States currency. The balboa, however, has never been coined. There is in use here the silver peso, half peso, 20 centavos, 10 centavos, 5 centavos, and 1 centavo. These have a value in United States currency of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 \, and \ cents, respectively. Under the laws of the Republic a foreigner can not enter who has not the sum of $15 in his pockets, nor can one enter if afflicted with a loathsome and infectious disease. Inasmuch as the President of the Republic called the National Assembly to meet in special session in June, 1907, for the purpose of passing laws as to ownership in and sale and transfer of lands, there is now open to the general public hundreds of thousands of acres of rich grazing and tillable land which can be bought from the Panama Government at 25 cents United States currency per hectare, about 12 cents per acre, and I am receiving many letters from Americans who are interested. I believe there is a great future for Panama in a stock raising and in an agricultural way. 10 COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF PANAMA. COMMERCE OF THE REPUBLIC. The total importations into Panama during 1907, according to pub- lished reports, amounted to $17,204,984 gold, of which $7,640,534 went to the Canal Zone, leaving $9,564,450 as the actual imports into the Republic. The imports, by countries, are shown in the following statement: Countries. Value. Countries. Value. United States $5, 196,964 Cuba, etc $88, 435 2,028, 112 00. 101 1 , 001 859 30, 536 334. 900 30, 101 191,908 4, 450 Italy 189,712 Other countries 8j 537 149,705 97,214 Total 9, 564, 450 Salvador.". 91,850 The secretary of the treasury of Panama informs me, however, that from delayed reports he linds that the imports into the Canal Zone are much greater than the amount given above. He says that the total amount will reach $13,468,358, an excess of $5,827,824 over the original figures, which would make the real total of imports $23,032,808 instead of $17,204,984. Panama has a rich soil and a fine climate, and wheat, sugar, rice, potatoes, onions, and other vegetables can easily be grown, but nevertheless during 1907 there were imported 36,000 sacks of flour, 30,000 quintals of sugar, 40,000 quintals of rice, 10,000 quintals of potatoes, and 100,000 pounds of onions. (Quintal in the metric sys- tem equals 220 pounds avoirdupois.) CLASSIFICATION OF EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES. The total exports from the Republic of Panama in 1907 amounted to $1,960,665, against $1,064,201 in 1906. The exports from the Panama consular district to the United States in 1907 were valued at $362,005, against $362,720 and $481,289, respectively, in 1906 and 1905. The principal articles were: Cocobolo Coffee Copper, old Hides Mahogany Mother-of-pearl shells. Nuts, ivory Rubber Sarsaparilla Skins Specie Tuna gum AH other articles Articles. 1905. 1900. 1907. $40. 240 $49,107 $82, 741 3,220 922 3.431 1 , 590 708 3,480 87,815 88, 315 76, 029 58, 333 0,541 15.483 7,203 2,850 4,901 41,840 23,934 32, 029 187,375 109, 880 103, 697 1 , 082 1,720 322 32, 712 18,758 20. 907 2,024 677 5,856 2,829 3,573 8,005 19,120 14,135 4S1,289 320, 720 362, 005 Total COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF PANAMA. 11 COLON. By Consul James C. Kellogg. The value of the imports into Colon during the year 1907 amounted to $2,039,352, a decrease of $735,083 compared with the previous year. Of the total imports the principal amounts by countries and the decreases were as follows: Countries. Value. Decrease. Countries. Value. Decrease. §1,275,333 8662,050 33,330 15, 863 13, 634 8,624 822,248 60, 306 $1,044 538 United Kingdom Germany France.’. Spain 349, 049 208, 784 93, 798 29,834 Other countries Total 2,039,352 735, 083 The imports by principal articles from the four leading countries were as follows: Articles. United States. United Kingdom. Germany. France. Dry goods, boots and shces, etc Drugs, etc 8482, 078 26. 4S7 54, 527 49, 847 198, 794 421 , 348 42,252 $180, 375 7.850 19,890 891,467 5,750 17, 856 $40,816 2,718 Liquors 37, 870 44, 695 58, 399 27, 880 46, 183 19, 648 28, 120 11,470 10, 674 Total 1,275,333 349, 049 208, 784 93, 798 ' EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES. The value of exports to the United States during 1907 amounted to $100,792, a decrease of $55,882 compared with 1906. The principal articles of export were: Cocoanuts, worth $37,839; hides, $6,442; ivory nuts, $23,958; rubber, $6,691; and tortoise shell, $12,361. Returned American goods amounted to $30,846, which included $26,540 worth of scrap iron. The estimated value of exports to Great Britain was $204,140, and to Germany $96,348. These exports consisted chiefly of tortoise shell, hides, and rubber. The declared value of exports from Colon to the United States during the past three years was as follows : Articles. 1905. 1906. 1907. Bananas 830, 965 84,000 Cocoa 2,278 37,839 4,458 765 54, 600 66, 067 Coffee Cotton Hides 4.755 7, 812 6,442 Articles. 1905. 1906. 1907. 826, 080 §25, 394 8, 685 §23.958 6, 691 Rubber 8, 185 Tortoise shell 9,240 13,210 12,361 Other articles 2,845 4, 521 2,000 Total 141,485 156, 654 100. 792 STEAMSHIP SERVICE DISCONTINUED COAL RECEIPTS. Since April, 1907, the steamers of the Panama Railroad Steam- ship Company, which formerly entered at the port of Colon, ceased calling here and now enter at Cristobal, Canal Zone, the American 12 COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF PANAMA. port adjoining Colon. Lumber and other cargoes for the city of Panama, which formerly were discharged at Colon, are now landed at Cristobal and taken across to Panama, thereby reducing the value of imports at this port. Goods destined for Colon and landed at Cristobal are brought here in cars and continue to be examined at the Colon custom-house in the same manner as when the vessels entered at this port. The amount of coal brought to the ports of Colon and Cristobal for the use of the Isthmian Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Company consisted of 203,451 tons from the United States, an increase of about 100,000 tons over the previous year. The entire amount of coal imported, although coming from the United States, was brought in Norwegian and British steamers; also all other mate- rial with exception of that which came by the Panama Railroad steamers, an insignificant amount when compared with that brought by Norwegian and British cargo steamers. The consumption of coal on the Isthmus averaged 30,000 tons per month, or 1,000 tons daily, and of this amount about 5,000 tons were used by the Panama Railroad Company and 12,000 by the transportation department of the Isthmian Canal Commission. The freight paid on coal was $1.50 gold per ton, which on the 203,451 tons brought to the Isthmus during the year amounted to $305,176 gold, which was paid to foreign vessels by the Isthmian Canal Com- mission and the Panama Railroad Company on coal freights alone. There were 364,748 tons of other cargoes, principally machinery, lumber, ties, etc., brought for the Panama Railroad Company and the Isthmian Canal Commission during 1907, as against 238,136 tons in 1906, an increase of 106,612 tons over the previous year. The freight charges on these cargoes, a large portion of which was trans- ported in foreign bottoms, amounted to a very large sum. INCREASED FREIGHT TRAFFIC NAVIGATION STATISTICS. Freight traffic from New York and New Orleans to the South Pacific ports via Panama for the year increased 6,734 tons, to Cen- tral America and Mexico 5,170 tons, and to Panama 5,957 tons. From Central America and Mexico to Europe there was a decrease of 171 tons, and from South Pacific ports to Europe an increase of 11,050 tons. The total tonnage from Colon to Pacific ports amounted to 640,132 as against 409,890 for the previous year, an increase of 230,242 tons. That from the Pacific ports to Colon was 296,214, as compared with 255,821 during 1906, an increase of 40,393 tons over the preceding year. The freight traffic of the Panama Railroad Steamship Line showed an increase of 16,578 tons, and the number of passengers carried increased 2,908 over 1906. Tonnage from Europe to Central America and Mexico increased 3,262 and to the South Pacific ports 12,679. The through traffic was 41 per cent of the total tonnage handled, as against 51 per cent during 1906. The total earnings of the railroad for transportation showed an increase of $1,068,072 over the previous year. The earnings of the steamship line were $1,560,910, an increase of $213,898 over 1906. The number of steamers entering this port during 1907 were 21 American of 51,834 tons; 214 British of 474,149 tons; 112 German of 261,545 tons; 118 Norwegian of 197,049 tons; 24 French of 89,434 COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF PANAMA. 13 tons; 12 Spanish of 60,868 tons; 12 Italian of 39,076 tons; and 15 Cuban of 12,840 tons. Of sailing vessels, 5 American of 1,422 tons, and 13 British of 6,081 tons, also 1 German of 416 tons, exclusive of small coasting vessels, entered this port. The marked decrease in American shipping during 1907 was due partly to the steamers of the Panama Railroad Company having ceased to call at this port, but berthed instead at the adjacent port of Cristobal, Canal Zone, where there entered 46 American steamers of 131,983 tons, and 5 sailing vessels of 1,932 tons. Vessels of other nationalities bringing cargoes for the Isthmian Canal Commission or Panama Railroad Company, although berthed at Cristobal, entered at their respective consulates in Colon. The total number of ocean vessels arriving at the ports of Colon and Cristobal during the year with coal was 44; other freight, 836; a total of 880, with a tonnage of 700,623. MUNICIPAL AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. During 1907 there was much accomplished in the way of improve- ments in Colon, among which was the completion of the Mount Hope reservoir, which has a capacity of 465,000,000 gallons and supplies the city of Colon, which consumes about 460,000 gallons a day. A sewerage system has been completed and nearly all houses are now supplied with water; the paving of the sidewalks is nearly completed and much was done to improve the streets. Dirt and crushed stone is being placed on the beach, from the quarantine station to the light- house, for the purpose of preventing damage caused by the surf during the winter season. This has also widened the street, which had become narrow for coaches by the continued breaking of the surf on the beach. During the year there was much activity in the con- struction of streets and in the renovation of private and public build- ings; the most noteworthy new buildings are a hotel and the Panama- nian Government building, constructed of brick and cement. This latter building is an up-to-date structure, and one of the most elegant public buildings in the Republic. Front street, the principal business thoroughfare of the city, in which are located the principal importing houses of Colon, has been paved the entire length. The new building occupied by the general offices of the Panama Railroad Company is pleasantly located in a large square fronting the sea. LOCAL BUSINESS DEPRESSION — ADVICE TO AMERICAN SALESMEN. Trade has been very much depressed in Colon. Many business houses are overstocked in dry goods, boots and shoes, clothing, provi- sions, and other lines of goods. At the close of the year the merchants were in hopes that conditions would improve, but there was a decrease in imports from the United States, amounting to $662,050, as com- pared with the previous year, and the present condition of affairs does not tend to encourage local importers to show preference for American firms in placing orders for goods. During the year just ended much activity has been displayed by for- eign salesmen, notably German and English, in the advertising of their different lines of goods. American salesmen have yet to learn, among other things, that the Spanish- American buyer will not be hurried nor intimidated into purchasing goods. They should be approached in a quiet, tactful way, and special consideration should be shown them. 14 COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF PANAMA. It often happens that an American salesman will call on a merchant and begin his interview by saying that he is in a great hurry and wishes to catch the train for Panama, and requesting that the merchant examine his samples and place his orders for goods at once. It goes without saying that such a method of doing business must be discon- tinued if American salesmen are to compete successfully with their foreign rivals. Another item which should be carefully considered by American salesmen coming to this country is their personal appear- ance. They should be dressed neatly and by their manners awaken respect and confidence in their would-be purchasers. BOCAS DEL TORO AGENCY. By Consular Agent Louis F. Ryan. The cultivation and exportation of bananas to the United States constitutes the principal industry of this district. During the year 1907 there were 3,163,050 bunches exported, having a value of $790,738 United States currency. All this fruit was carried in for- eign bottoms to the ports of New Orleans and Mobile. In 1906 the export was 3,312,000 bunches. There was a decline in 1907, as old lands were abandoned and a severe windstorm destroyed a great many banana trees. For the year 1908 if is believed that upward of 4,000,000 bunches of bananas will be exported, and shipments made to European markets. Exports of other products to the United States were hides, rubber, cocoanuts, limes, native curios, quaqua bark, and mahogany wood, having a total value of $3,614 United States currency. These articles were carried to New York by German steamers. EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES. The exports declared from Bocas del Toro to the United States during the past three years were as follows: Articles. 1905. 1900. 1907. 8828,125 854 $700,728 903 789 Hides 816 30 120 Rubber 220 99 1,716 100 136 '168 Total 097,707 829,244 23,340 794,451 ie;587 33; 757 Grand total 714,294 852,584 828,208 The exports to European markets, on account of the better price realized, consisted of rubber, sarsaparilla, turtle shell, hides, turtle meat, and chocolate, with an aggregate value of $32,275. PURCHASES PROM THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE. The imports from the United States during 1907 were valued at $873,189, and consisted of the following principal articles: Lumber, furniture, railway material, including cars and locomotives, machinery of all sorts, hardware, tools, tinware, enameled ware, spirits and malt liquors, provisions, flour, notions, stationery, cotton goods, clothing, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES OF PANAMA. 15 laces, jewelry, coal, soaps, and drugs. Large quantities of codfish and kindred products were imported in bond from Nova Scotia, as well as large quantities of butter from Canada; the goods came via Mobile and New Orleans. The imports from Europe direct amounted to about $120,000, and consisted of merchandise of all descriptions, including corrugated iron, beet sugar, perfumery, laces, cutlery, enameled ware, hardware of various kinds, preserves, foodstuffs in tins, cotton goods, wines of all kinds, cheap jewelry, notions, clocks, toys, etc. LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS — RAILROAD BUILDING. Owing to delays in the arrival of new machinery from the United States, repairs to old machinery, etc., the work of filling in the town has not progressed as rapidly as was expected. The filling material is obtained by pumping sand and coral from the bottom of the bay. The sewer system has not yet been put into use on account of this delay. The construction of the concrete and steel wharf at Almirante, near the town of Bocas del Toro, is going on rapidly and will probably be finished early in 1908. This wharf will be the terminus of the railway lines of the Sixaola and Changuinola districts. Banana steamers will be loaded at the wharf instead of the entrance to the Changuinola Canal, in the open bay. The wharf will be large enough to accommodate three large ships at one time, having three berths. There is, sufficient deep water at the wharf site for extremely large ships. The construction of the railway from Almirante to Changuinola is nearing completion. It will connect with the railways in the various banana plantations of Changuinola, and will be about 13 miles in length. Work on the new railway lines in the Sixaola district, the new banana country, is being pushed with speed. When this line is finished it will tap the rich agricultural land of' the Sixaola country, and in conjunction with the Changuinola banana farms will be the largest banana area in the world. NEW FIBER DISCOVERY — MARINE STATISTICS. Growing in this district and but recently discovered are the qua- qua and mahogua trees. Samples of the wood and bark of these trees have been forwarded for examination to the United States, and have been found to be very desirable for manufacturing into pulp for mak- ing a fine quality of paper. There are a great many of these trees in this district and large quantities of the fiber could be obtained here. A piece of the fiber immediately beneath the bark is stripped off and laid flat on the ground and beaten with a round stick until it becomes soft and pliable, and can be formed into any shape. Small sections of this fiber have been used as door mats. The number of vessels that entered from and cleared for the United States during 1907 were 165 Norwegian, 47 British, and 7 German. There were no American vessels at this port during the year. Eleven steamers entered the port from Germany, exclusive of those men- tioned above, with general merchandise. O