‘Cyprus.’ [‎78r] (155/184)

TRADE AND REVENUE.
149
Cyprus cannot be considered, comparatively, of the first importance in Europe
and although the products are numerous the actual production of any single
article is not large. The Liverpool steamers trading with the ports of Syria
and Egypt do not, it appears, find it remunerative to touch at Larnaca, except
only at long intervals, when a sufficient amount of produce for shipment can
be guaranteed. Owing to this want of frequent and reliable opportunities, the
exporter prefers to avail himself of the Austrian mail steamers calling here
fortnightly, and taking produce for all the ports of the Mediterranean, to
send off his purchases to some of these ports than to hold them over indefi
nitely, even though convinced that, with immediate shipment, he would
realise a better result by sending the produce to English markets. How this is
to be successfully brought about I am unable to suggest, but it is evident that
until more frequent and regular opportunities of steam conveyances to English
ports can be procured, and relied upon, the volume of exports from Cyprus to
England can hardly increase, and much will continue to be forwarded to Con
tinental ports which otherwise would go to those of Great Britain.”
The occupation of the island by Great Britain affords the
remedy here sought for, and it is to be expected that the direct trade
will now largely increase.
The Larnaca statistics of the last four years show the following
figures:—
RETURN OF BRITISH SHIPPING AT THE PORT OF LARNACA.
Entered.
Cleared.
Year.
Vessels
with
cargoes.
Vessels
in
ballast.
Total
Vessels.
Value
of
cargoes.
Vessels
with
cargoes.
Vessels
in
ballast.
Total
Vessels.
Value
of
cargoes.
1874
—
15
15
£
15
—
15
£
45,000
1875
—
18
18
—
17
-
17
40,576
1876
3
7
10
3,500
10
-
10
35,000
1877
-
3
3
—
3
—
3
1,000
In the three first years above mentioned, nearly the whole of
the cargoes sent to England consisted of wheat and barley, but in
1877, owing to the failure of the grain crop on account of the
continued drought during the months of January, March, and April,
and also in a considerable degree to the influence of the w r ar, there
was a general depression of trade, which showed itself in a marked
manner with regard to the direct commerce between Larnaca and
England, for in that year the whole of the exports from that town
to Great Britain, in vessels of all countries, amounted only in £3,007,
whereas the year before, vessels of all countries conveyed there the
produce of the island to the value of £43,800. It is however,
worthy of notice that the exports to England from Limasol did
not decline last year; their value amounted to £28,650, whilst
in 1876 their total was but £8,150. This great increase is to be
attributed to the recent large demand for locust-beans, of which no
less than £28,600-worth was sent to England from Limasol in
1877.
Statistics of the whole trade of Cyprus are given ; these are
taken from the Consular Iteports, but in a country where no
public accounts are kept, there is nothing upoi\ which the figures