The Danube is obstructed by ice during a portion of the winter season, and it is necessary for masters of vessels to be careful not to arrive so late as to run the risk of being compelled to pass the winter there. The following table shows the period of the ice during several years:— It is the general opinion that the Commerce of the Danube must become still more important at its mouth; of this its development has, thus far, been retarded by political reasons or on account of its having been neglected to remove the accumulation of sand at the mouth of Sulina. It is certainly much desired that this mouth should be cleaned out and deepened, and yet there is no sufficient reason for believing that the Commerce of the Danube, by its mouth, would become more considerable than it is at present. The exportation will be limited to the produce of Moldavia and Wallachia, of a portion of Bessarabia and Turkey, in the environs of Tulcha. It may be mentioned, that the products of Hungary are not in demand for the Black Sea, or for Turkey, but for the Mediterranean and the countries out of the Straits of Gibraltar. From any part of the Danube, above the junction of the Saave, and for some distance below it, the produce may be transported to Fuime, by the Saave, and by land carriage, at equally cheap rates, as far as Galatz; and from Fuime, the freights would always be cheaper than from Galatz. So long as the difficulties at the "Iron Gate" exist, few products will descend from beyond it. An attempt was made with rape seed above the "Iron Gate" and brought it down to Ibraila; but as within the last few years, nothing has come from so high up, it must be supposed that it was not found profitable. The Bulgarians, for the most part find it advantageous to transport their produce to the Black Sea; and from a part of Bessarabia, it is better to transport it to Odessa. It may be remaked that in the trade between Vienna and Constantinople the plan has been made of discharging the steamer at Chernevoda, and to transport the passengers and merchandise, as far as Kustenja, by land, by which means two days are saved in the voyage; and if this route has been abandoned, it is on account of there being no shelter at Kustenja, and when it is bad whether, much difficulty is experienced in discharging and reloading the goods; but if there were a good harbor there, the trade between Constantinople and Vienna would again go by this route, and would not pass any more by the mouth of Sulina. Respecting the imports of Galatz and Ibraila by the Danube, during the period from 1837 to 1848, it is added The tables of imports given each year show sufficiently the different articles imported into the Provinces by the Danube, and therefore the revisions of them will now be limited to English articles. Yet it must be remembered that the only articles imported, except those of England, are the fruits and oil of the Levant. Table showing the principle articles imported entirely, or for the most part from England from 1837 to 1848: 1846. 1847... 1848... 5,994 2,707 not complete. 2,086 4,928 4,175 1,315 5,065 3,540 2,394 2,781 The following table shows the value estimated on all the the vessels by the Danube, to Galatz and Ibraila, from 1847 to 1848, inclusive, in pounds: Total. 1,908 1,761 97,405 136,998 not complete. 146,461 47,388 193,839 200.294 90,781 291,075 164,114 132,938 297,052 169,191 178,155 847,346 187,454 177,646 365,100 223,635 171,896 395,531 From the preceding table it is seen that the importation of English manufactures and spun cotton, which in the year 1837 was only about 1,000 bales, for Galatz and Ibraila, has increased in twelve years to 8,000 bales or more; and it is probable that it will increase in the same proportion during the coming twelve years—that is, in case some new misfortune does not happen to the Provinces; and there is no doubt but that so long as the exports increase the imports will increase in the same proportion. The following details of the trade of the Provinces will serve to show more minutely the return and amount of the exports and freight for the year 1849: NOTE OF IMPORTATIONS INTO GALATZ UP THE DANUBE IN 1849, IN ENGLISH WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, AND VALUE OF THE SAME IN STERLING. NOTE OF EXPORTS FROM GALATZ, BY SEA, IN 1849, IN ENGLISH WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, AND VALUE OF THE SAME IN STERLING, FREE ON BOARD. Quantity. 173,797 258,763 60,617 Value. 0 Total value. £199,866 232,887 0 14 0 42,432 Barley.. 741 0 10 Linseed.. 1,521 0 27 370 2,053 Rapeseed... 350 0 22 0 385 Tallow and chervice.. 0.36 5,494 Preserved meat in tin canisters ..lbs. 1,104,536 13,806 20 Wool. lbs. Wine. 0 1 Walnuts cwt. 2,543 0 Prunes.. 1,552 Honey. 108 Planks and deals.. Masts and spars ...rafts 20 Salt (rock).... ...cwt. 5,400 Total.. £528,342 DESTINATION OF VESSELS FROM GALATZ, AND CARGOES OF SAME IN 1849. Note of vesselS DEPARTED, LOADED, FROM GALATZ, AND CARGOES OF SAME IN 1849. • Wine, 106,750 gallons; walnuts, 2,543 cwt.; prunes, 1,552 cwt.; honey, 108 cwt.; deals, 1,800 pieces. |