The statistics concerning the trade in raw materials for paper-making are not published in a detailed form, all the various kinds of fibre, &c., being grouped under two heads, viz. rags (linen and cotton), and esparto (which embraces other fibres, and probably wood pulps). The figures for recent years are shown in the accompanying tables:—

tons.l.
1880.29,642451,782
1881.26,773396,274
1882.21,200303,349
1883.28,543401,922
1884.36,233487,866
1885.35,470466,928
tons.l.
1880.228,5801,642,903
1881.238,0431,626,800
1882.251,5941,784,078
1883.288,5491,943,732
1884.260,5441,638,564

But a portion of these imports was exported again, the figures being as follows:—

tons.l.
1880.55,792673,523
1881.50,488563,460
1882.49,352526,554
1883.51,293502,851
1884.60,924562,903
tons.l.
1880. 6,965102,499
1881.10,183146,101
1882. 7,004 84,515
1883.11,561121,992
1884.26,498274,664

The relative proportions of raw material furnished by the various countries in 1884 (the latest available return) are shown in the subjoined tables:—

FromTons.£
Germany21,280294,883
Holland 4,406 56,537
Belgium 2,867 34,713
Turkey 2,036 16,228
France 1,875 28,133
Russia 1,784 33,293
Channel Islands   282  3,972
Norway   261  3,377
Denmark   198  3,020
British South Africa   133  1,615
Australasia   113  2,245
Canary Islands    96  1,043
Spain    93  1,009
Argentine Republic    64  1,280
Other countries   745  6,518
36,233487,866
FromTons.£
Algeria 88,357  515,232
Spain 40,159  314,927
Tripoli 33,930  172,282
Tunis 20,526  117,374
Other countries  1,033    5,738
184,0051,125,553
FromTons.£
Norway47,923276,204
Belgium 7,169 58,383
Holland 6,484 46,104
Sweden 5,178 48,523
Germany 3,732 36,582
France 2,128 14,667
Denmark 1,205 13,332
British India 1,046  7,735
Egypt   870  4,933
Other countries   804  6,544
76,539513,011