TRADE AND C011~I~IUNICA710NS r6r
The shield was studded with silver nails and then sold at a price vary-
ing from Rs. 3o to Rs. so. Ship-building was at one time an important
industry, 'to a great extent in the hands of the Pārsis. The largest
vessels were engaged in the China trade, and were from 50o to r,ooo
tons burden. Many of the ships were built on European lines. They
were mostly manned by English crews and flew the English flag. The
sea-borne trade from the ports has greatly fallen off of late years.
The industries of Surat city suffered from the damage done to the
houses and workshops in the great fire; of r88g, when property valued
at zs lakhs was destroyed. At the present time the weaving of cotton
and silk goods is the chief industry of the District. 'There are three
steam factories in Surat city, containin; 34,z9o spindles and r8o looms,
which spin and weave annually nearly 3 million pounds of cotton yarn
and about half a trillion pounds of cotton cloth. They employ r,z88
persons. Except among the aboriginal tribes, hand-weaving is every-
where common. Silk brocades and embroideries are still. manufactured
in Surat city. Théy have a widespread reputation, and exhibit skill
of a high order. Nowhere in the Presidency are finer fabrics woven
on hand-looms. There is one salt-work in the Illistrict, which yields
annually 300,000 maunds, valued at 6ā lakhs.
'1 rade centres chiefly in the towns of Surat and Bulsār, as well as in
the seaport Of BILIMORA (Baroda territory). The total value of the
exports from the seven seaports which afforded a.n outlet for the
produce of the District in r874 amounted to nearly 44~ lakhs, and that
of the imports to q lakhs. These figures include the value of com-
modities shipped and received at Barodrti ports. The two principal
seaports are Surat city and Bulsār. The value of the: exports from
these taken together was r3 lakhs in ryo3-4; and of the imports
about r8 lakhs. The exports include grain, cotton, pulse, ~raahuā fruit,
timber, and bamboos ; the imports include tobacco, cotton-seed, iron,
coco-nuts, and European goods.
There are 46z miles of road, of which zoo miles are metalled, con-
necting the principal towns with the railway. Of the rnetalled roads,
zz miles of provincial and 7oz of local roads are maintained by
the Public Works department. Avenues of trees are maintained along
r yo miles. The only important bridges for cart traffic are those over
the Tāpti at Surat, and over the Tena creek near Olpād. The Bombay,
Baroda, and Central India Railway runs through the District parallel to
the coast for about 6o miles, crossing the Tāpti at Sura.t city on a fine
iron-girder bridge. The Tāpti Valley Railway, r55 miles in- length,
which joins Surat to the Great Indian Peninsula system at Amalner
in Khāndesh District, was opened in igoo. It traverses the District
for r r miles.
History records severe famine in the years r6z3, r7rq, Ig47, and
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