TIMBER EXPOKt before it is fit to be placed in the warehouses. The warehouses are very well adapted for storing corn. They consist, generally, of 7 stories, 3 of which are in the roof. The floors are about 9 feet asunder. Each of them is divided by perpendicular partitions, the whole length, about 4 feet high, by which different parcels are kept distinct from each other. Thus the floors have two divisions, each of them capable of storing from 150 to 200 quarters, arid leaving j-ufficient space for turning or screening it. There are abundance of windows in each floor, which are always thrown open in dry weather to ventilate the corn. It is usually turned over three times a- week. The men who perform the operation, throw it with their shovels as high as they can, and thus the grains are separated from each other, and exposed to the drying influence of the air. The whole of the corn warehouses now left — for many were burned during the siege of 1814— are capable of storing 500,000 quarters of wheat, supposing the parcels to be large enough to fill each of the two divisions of the floors, with a separate heap; but as. of late years, it has come down from Poland in smaller parcels than formerly, and of more various qualities, which must of necessity be kept distinct, the present stock of about 280,000 quarters is found to occupy nearly the whole of those warehouses which are in repair, or are advantageously situated for loading the ships. Ships are loaded by gangs of porters with great despatch, who will complete a cargo of 500 quarters in about three or four hours. [Jacob's Report in 1826.] Jn 1845, the exports of wheat were 34,106 lasts. In the beginning of last century rye was the grain chiefty exported from Dantzic. In the preceding century its annual average export of rye amounted to 95,000 lasts. The grain warehouses, and those for linen and hemp, are situated, as already noticed, upon an island, formed by the river Mottlau on one side, and another branch on the other. There are three bridges on each side of the island, which are drawn up at night, excepting the two at the end of the main street across the centre of the island, communicating between the Altstadt and the Vorstadt. To guard these warehouses, there are from 20 to 30 dogs let loose at 11 o'clock every night. To keep the dogs within these districts, and to protect passengers from harm, at the end of each street leading to the main one there are high gates; no light is allowed, nor any person permitted to live on this island.
' Among the chief exports from Dantzic are masts, corkwood, hemp, flax, potash, honey, wax, tallow, iron, steel, copper, lead, saltpetre, tar, amber, skins, furs, wool, and salt; but corn and timber have always been, and still are, the staple exports. In 1788, the following estimate was made of its commerce: — About 60,000 lasts of corn from Poland were annually exported, amounting, at 18 ducats per last, to about 2,080,000 ducats. The wood, masts, potash, hemp, flax, hides, linens, skins, honey, tallow, wax, and tobacco, from Poland and the Ukraine, were valued at nearly the same sum; making an annual capital of 6,000,000 thalers vested in commerce. The profit upon this sum amounted to about 1,200,000 thalers, from which, deducting 150,000 for taxes, custom-house dues, and interest of money, there remained 900,000 thalers as annual profit. In 1839, the total exports and imports were valued at 13,236,118 thalers, or about £2,200,000. The restrictive duties imposed by Russia have directed much of the produce of the Ukraine and Poland into other channels.'
From Konigsberg and Memel, Prussian ports east of Dantzig, the timber exports consist largely of the produce of Lithuania.
At Konigsberg Mr Quinn obtained much information from Mr Hertsel, the British Consul, who had previously resided some time at Memel, and was there engaged in the timber trade. Mr Quinn reports: —
' He seems to be well acquainted with the affairs of the country, as connected with the lumber trade. He informed me that about one-third of the forest lands which supply this place and Memel belong to the Russian