PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

Imports, Exports, Pounds Pounds Year. Sterling. Sterling. - 1847 7,000 800 1849 16,000 6,482 1851 16,000 20,000 1853 37,000 24,000 1855 43,000 —- 33,000 1857 50,000 48,452 1859 62,000 87,000 1861 43,000 46,000 1863 84,000 105,000 1865 90,000 120,928 1866 74,000 21,633

The above table tells its own story. From 1855 our imports of £43,000 sterling ad- vanced to £90,000 sterling, or more than double, while at the same time our exports increased from £33,ooo,to £125,000, or near- ly fourfold, while in 1866, when the treaty was abrogated, the exports fell to £21,633 from £120,928 the year before, nearly six- fold. No one can doubt that had the reci- procity treaty been in force until now' this province would today have a population of

300,000 or more. F...

The two great items of exports during the period now under review will give some idea of the products of the farms and the in- crease:

Year. Barley. Oats. Potatoes. 1847 9,890 200,000 34,000 1848 4,123 132,000 102,000 1849 10,097 231,000 188,780 1850 23,000 326,000 126,000 1851 Omitted 556,000 . 158,000 1852 “ 577,000 236,000 1853 “ 441,000 156,000 1854 “ 456,000 190,000 1855 ‘ “ 563,000 275,000 1856 “ 640,000 170,000 1857 “ 597,000 269,000 1858 “ 840,000 340,000 1859 97,935 1,111,970 465,000 1860 103,756 1,290,000 511,000 1861 48,411 949,000 420,000 1862 59,221 943,000 328,000 1863 74,959 1,459,131 408,000

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It will be observed that the increase in the products of the soil exports was coinci- dent with the reciprocity treaty because the higher prices induced higher cultivation.

It was perhaps in 1863 that Summerside became the second port in the Island, out- stripping Georgetown, while Charlottetown still held first place.

Before we review the latter part of this period, that is from 1865 to 1873, mention should be made of the liquor trade and dis- tilleries. Mention has been made above of the manufacture of whiskey, but a mere men- tion conveys no adequate idea of this trade. Besides the immense importation of liquors, principally rum, brandy, gin and wine, which, with tobacco, yielded about half the impost revenue of the province, some £9,000 ster- ling; there were distilled in various distiller- ies 4,677 gallons of whiskey, on which ex- cise was collected £155, to say nothing of what was smuggled in or avoided excise. It is notable that the district where distillation was most in evidence, for instance in the Mal- peque district, where not less than six dif- ferent institutions made the ardent, today are the banner prohibition constituencies of the province. The reaction is now complete and prohibition is *likely very soon to obtain in all parts of the province, though so long as the British North America Act of Confed- eration remains unamended these goods can and will be imported.

It is impossible to convey an intelligent idea of the change in trade and commerce from 1866 to 1873, and since, without some reference to the political changes and con-

‘Since above was written Prohibition has been carried in two out of the three counties and before this goes finally to press will obtain in all parts of the Island—end it will eifectually do awe with that curse of civilization, the saloon—thus wil one oi! the abuses of one or the best. things God has given to man be remedied, but’ Timoth may yet be able to

et some wine for his stomac 's sake and hise nflrmities.