The number of persons employed in mining operations in 1905 was 9934.
Owing to the natural aptitude of the Greeks for commerce and their predilection for a seafaring life a great portion of the trade of the Levant has fallen into their hands. Important Greek mercantile colonies exist in all the Commerce and industry. larger ports of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and many of them possess great wealth. In some of the islands of the archipelago almost every householder is the owner or joint owner of a ship. The Greek mercantile marine, which in 1888 consisted of 1352 vessels (70 steamers) with a total tonnage of 219,415 tons, numbered in 1906, according to official returns, 1364 vessels (275 steamers) with a total tonnage of 427,291 tons. This figure is apparently too low, as the ship-owners are prone to understate the tonnage in order to diminish the payment of dues. Almost the whole corn trade of Turkey is in Greek hands. A large number of the sailing ships, especially the smaller vessels engaged in the coasting trade, belong to the islanders. A considerable portion of the shipping on the Danube and Pruth is owned by the inhabitants of Ithaca and Cephalonia; a certain number of their sleps (σλέπια) have latterly been acquired by Rumanian Jews, but the Greek flag is still predominant. There are seven principal Greek steamship companies owning 40 liners with a total tonnage of 21,972 tons. In 1847 there was but one lighthouse in Greek waters; in 1906 there were 70 lighthouses and 68 port lanterns. Hermoupolis (Syra) is the chief seat of the carrying trade, but as a commercial port it yields to Peiraeus, which is the principal centre of distribution for imports. Other important ports are Patras, Volo, Corfu, Kalamata and Laurium.
The following table gives the total value (in francs) of special Greek commerce for the given years:—
| 1887. | 1892. | 1897. | 1902. | |
| Imports | 131,849,325 | 119,306,007 | 116,363,348 | 137,229,364 |
| Exports | 102,652,487 | 82,261,464 | 81,708,626 | 79,663,473 |
The marked fluctuations in the returns are mainly attributable to variations in the price and quantity of imported cereals and in the sale of currants. The great excess of imports, caused by the large importation of food-stuffs and manufactured articles, is due to the neglect of agriculture and the undeveloped condition of local industries.
The imports and exports for 1905 were distributed as follows:—
| Imports from. | Exports to. | |
| Frs. | Frs. | |
| Russia | 27,725,218 | 810,925 |
| Great Britain | 27,516,928 | 24,436,707 |
| Austria-Hungary | 19,444,415 | 7,876,806 |
| Turkey | 15,538,370 | 4,516,403 |
| Germany | 13,896,687 | 7,514,474 |
| France | 10,101,070 | 7,078,321 |
| Italy | 6,190,253 | 4,266,210 |
| Bulgaria | 5,135,718 | 133,106 |
| Rumania | 3,814,641 | 1,152,207 |
| America | 2,656,501 | 6,440,648 |
| Belgium | 2,276,393 | 2,068,138 |
| Netherlands | 1,921,762 | 7,180,301 |
| Egypt | 634,035 | 5,928,555 |
| Switzerland | 348,281 | .. |
| Other countries | 4,555,781 | 4,288,365 |
| ———— | ———— | |
| Total | 141,756,053 | 83,691,166 |
An enumeration of the chief articles of importation and exportation, together with their value, will be found in tabular form overleaf.
Greece does not possess any manufacturing industries on a large scale; the absence of a native coal supply is an obstacle to their development. In 1889 there were 145 establishments employing steam of 5568 indicated horse-power; in 1892 the total horse-power employed was estimated at 10,000. In addition to the smelting-works at Laurium, at which some 5000 hands are employed by Greek and French companies and local proprietors, there are flour mills, cloth, cotton and silk spinning mills, ship-building and engineering works, oil-presses, tanneries, powder and dynamite mills, soap mills (about 40), and some manufactures of paper, glass, matches, turpentine, white lead, hats, gloves, candles, &c. About 100 factories are established in the neighbourhood of Athens and Peiraeus. The wine industry (10 factories) is of considerable importance, and the manufacture of cognac has latterly made great progress; there are 10 large and numerous small cognac distilleries. Ship-building is carried on actively at all the ports on the mainland and islands; about 200 ships, mostly of low tonnage, are launched annually.
Principal Articles of Importation.