[From Manx Quarterly, #3 November 1907]

STATISTICAL ABSTRACT (ISLE OF MAN.)

INTERESTING FIGURES.

The Statistical Abstract in each year from 1896-7 to 1905-6 has been issued from the Government Office, and, as usual, the book is replete with interesting information — information which affords food for much thought. So far as compilation goes, the abstract is an admirable piece of work, and considerable time and research must have been devoted to it. The tables are as clear as it is possible to make tables, and they apply not only to National Government affairs, but to the affairs of Local Government bodies.

Table No. 1 deals with the gross public revenue of the Island, which in the year 1897 was £98,123, while in 1906 it was £118,692. the latter sum being a best on record, the next best being £115,923 in 1904.

The total public expenditure out of current revenue (Table 2) was £76,640 in 1897, and £75,714 in 1906. High water mark in this connection was reached in 1899, when the total was £80,684. In this last named year the grants from revenue for public works amounted to an exceptionally large sum. The total expenditure out of current revenue and accumulated fund is only given as from 1900 to 1906. In the former year it amounted to £86,412, and in the latter to £84,313. The most expensive year was 1904, when the total was £927,780.

Table 3 gives the quantities of dutiable goods imported into or cleared for consumption in the Isle of Man. Temperance people will rejoice that there is a tendency for the consumption of spirituous liquors to decrease; but, on the other hand, there is an increase in imported beer. Owing to the present mode of calculating the revenue from tea, tobacco and cigars, and wines, it is not possible to give the quantities actually entering into consumption in the Island. The local manufacture of beer is evidently on the down-grade, and this fact may be set against the increase in imported beer.

Table 4 gives interesting particulars as to the articles subject to import duties in the Isle of Man, and the rate of duty levied on each article. The duties are practically the same as in England, the main differences wing that the duty on spirits is one shilling per proof gallon less in the Island than England, and that in the Island there is no duty on dried fruits.

A very interesting table is No. 5, in that it shows that the debt of the Insular Government, which w as £132,558 in 1881, was but £122,395 in 1906. This debt gradually increased from £132,558 in 1881 to £219,531 in 1894. Since 1894 the debt has automatically decreased by a sum of almost £100,000.

Table No. 6 deals with the passenger tax. The receipts from this tax at Douglas amounted to £3,017 in 1897, and to £3,927 in 1906 — the latter being the record year. The receipts at the other ports are so beggarly that they need not be mentioned — those at Ramsey in 1906 were but one twenty-fifth of the Douglas receipts in the same year. The particulars of expenditure show that out of the passenger tax receipts — mainly raised at Douglas — large sums are annually allocated towards the cost of maintaining the harbours throughout the Island.

Harbour dues (Table 7) show a tendency to decrease. The figures for the various ports in 1897 were: — Douglas, £1,336 Ramsey, C460; Peel, C283; Castletown, £162; Port St. Mary, £123; Laxey, £86. In 1906 the figures were: — Douglas, £1,186; Ramsey, £477; Peel, £190; Castletown, E£123; Port St. Mary, £109; Laxey, £153. Details of the expenditure out of harbour dues are also given.

Table 8 is devoted to the population of the Isle of Man as shown by the census tables in 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901. On the whole, the population has increased from 54,042 in 1871, to 54,752 in 1901. The increase has, however, to be ascribed to the growth of Douglas, Ramsey, and Onchan, the populations of the rural districts and of the towns of Peel and Castletown having decreased. Table 9 gives the number of houses in the Island. In 1901 there were 10,746 inhabited houses, 1,586 uninhabited houses, and 100 houses building. The families in separate occupation numbered 12,232.

Tables 10, 11, and 12 respectively deal with the numbers of births, marriages, and deaths in the Island. The births in 1896 numbered 1,437, as against 1,139 in 1905; marriages in 1896 numbered 377, as against 332 in 1905; and deaths in 1896 numbered 1,073, as against 998 in 1905. Table 13 gives the birth and death rates from 1903 to 1905. In the Western Division of the Island the birth-rate per thousand of the population in 1903 was 17.5, while the death-rate was 17.2. In the other divisions the figures were : —
Northern — Birth-rate, 20.0; death-rate, 19.1;
Eastern — Birth-rate, 27.2; death-rate, 17.2;
Southern — Birth-rate, 18.2; death-rate, 16.8.

In 1905 the figures were: —
Western Division — Birth-rate, 20.8; death-rate, 18.2;
Northern — Birth-rate, 18.2; death-rate, 14.8;
Eastern — Birth-rate, 23.8; death-rate, 20.5;
Southern — Birth-rate, 18.0; death-rate, 15.7.

The figures for the whole Island in 1903 were: — Birth-rate, 21.7; death-rate, 17.3. In 1905 the figures for the Island were: — Birth-rate, 20.8; death-rate, 18.2. The death-rates in the towns for 1905 were: — Douglas, 21.1; Ramsey, 13.7 ;

Peel, 16.6; Castletown, 16.2. Onchan had the lowest death-rate in 1905, the figure being 7.0. It should, however, be explained that owing to the extension of Douglas boundaries in 1903, and the consequent increase of the population of that town by about 2,000, the rates for Douglas are not reliable — the death-rate in particular, being calculated on the 1901 census, is higher than it actually is.

The numbers of passengers arriving and departing in each year during the years ended 31st December, 1897, to 1900, with the ports of arrival from and departure for are given in Table No. 14. In 1897 the arrivals numbered 358,156, and the departures 355,269. In 1906 the arrivals numbered 484,564, and the departures 484,521. 1906 created a record in arrivals and departures. About 50 per cent. of the arrivals are from Liverpool, while the remainder come from Fleetwood, Barrow, Heysham, Blackpool, Cumberland ports, Southport, Preston, and Morecambe, Llandudno, Dublin and Kingstown, Belfast, and Scotch ports. Since the inauguration of the Heysham service, the Barrow arrivals have fallen away more than one-half. Last year, 44,287 persons arrived from Heysham, while, 90,049 came from Fleetwood. Satisfactory development is shown in the arrivals from the Scotch ports.

Table 15 shows the yearly expenditure on Insular harbours in each year from 1897 to 1906. The amounts vary yearly, but during the decennial period the total amount expended on each harbour was as follows: — Douglas, £25,521; Ramsey, £28,411, Peel, £6,712; Castletown, £1,185 ; Port Erin, £1,038; Port St. Mary, L28; Derbyhaven, nil; Laxey, £1,610. From 1866 to 1896 the amounts expended on harbour works at the various ports have been as follow: — Douglas; £304,050; Ramsey, £99,879; Peel, £87,827; Castletown, £12,141; Port Erin, £45,160; Port St. Mary, £09,364; Derbyhaven, £75; and Laxey, £10,982.

The tonnage of shipping entering and clearing from Manx Ports shows a tendency to decrease. 1897 shipping of 824,711 tonnage entered and of 825,95 tonnage cleared, while in 1906 the tonnage entering was 723,440 and the tonnage clearing was 720,790. These returns do not include windbound vessels and fishing boats.

Table 18 shows very little variation in the matter of the tonnage of vessels registered as belonging to the Isle of Man in ten years, but the number of vessels registered shows a big decrease. In 1897 107 vessels of 14,518 tons were registered, and in 1906, 79 vessels of 13,142 tons were registered.

According to Table 19, there were built in the Isle of Man in 1897 six sailing vessels of 66 tons, while in 1906 there were so built four vessels of 70 tons. The best year during the decennial period in this respect was 1900, when 14 vessels of 205 tons were built.

Table 20 tells a dismal story — the decline of the Manx fishing industry. In 1897 there were engaged in the sea fisheries 349 first and second-class boats, belonging to the Isle of Man, of 5,932 tons, and having crews of 1,721 men and 254 boys. In 1906 the boats numbered 224, the tonnage was 3,651, and the men and boys employed were respectively 982 and 91. These figures for 1906 are the lowest on record.

Tables 21 and 22 deal with companies registered in the Island. In 1897 the limited companies registered numbered 13, with a nominal share capital of £108,500. The figures for 1906 were 4 and £92,500. The year of big figures was 1899 — the Breweries year — when, although but five companies were registered, the nominal capital was £890,000. In 1897 the total number of registered companies in the Isle of Man, having a share capital and believed to be carrying on business was 89, with a paid up capital of £1,249,083. In 1906, such companies numbered 78, with a paid no share capital of £1,322,774.

The total area of the Isle of Man, according to Table 23, is 145,325.100 acres, made up as follows : Land 139,318.511 acres ; public roads, 1,666.959 acres; foreshore, 3,986 .507 acres ; foreshore of tidal water, 38.976 acres ; water, 277.45° acres; and tidal water, 36697 acres. The most extensive parish in the Island is Lezayre, with 16,276.789 acres ; the next most extensive being Malew, 12,865.579 acres. The smallest parish is Santon, with 4,249.560 acres, the next smallest being Arbory, with 4,477''38 acres. Jurby is a good third, with 4,721'069 acres.

Table 24 deals with the acreage under crop, grass, etc., during each year of the decennial period. As showing the extent to which the yeomen interest still obtains in the Isle of Man, it may be mentioned that in 1906 out of 94,18 acres farmed 25,409 were farmed by owners. During the decennial period the proportions of land under crop have remained practically the same, the acreage in 1906 being 22,208 corn crops and 11,594 green crops. The bulk of the remainder of the agricultural land was under grass. In 1906 the number of horses in the Island was 5,623, of cattle 22,956, of sheep 74,437, and of pigs 3,563. Horses show a slight tendency to increase in numbers, but for nine years cattle have practically been at a standstill. In 1897, however, the cattle numbered 28,592. There is also a general tendency for sheep to increase slowly in numbers, and in 1906 there would appear to have been a boom in the pig-keeping branch of agricultural industry.

Tables 25 and 26 are replete with figures of particular interest to shareholders in the Isle of Man Railway Co. and the Manx Electric Railway Co. They include details of length of line, capital, passengers carried, receipts, expenditure, and percentage of expenditure to gross receipts.

Abstracts of receipts and expenditure of the Highway Board are given in tables 27 and 28. In 1897 the receipts of the board amounted to £10,124, and the expenditure to £9,063. In 1906 the receipts amounted to £9,328, and the expenditure to £9,200. So far as receipts are concerned, but £2,285 was in 1906 derived from rates and commuted labour.

The other sources of the income of that year were: — Duties on carriages, carts, and dogs, £3,909; public-house and other license duties, £2,802; other receipts, £332. It would be interesting to learn the exact amount contributed to the funds of the Highway Board from the town of Douglas.

Tables 29 and 30 have reference to education, and the figures given in them having for the most part been recently published, it must suffice to say that the total expenditure upon education grew rapidly each year from 1891 (£6,583) to 1894 (£12,146). The increase from 1894 to 1906 was more gradual, the figures for the latter being £16,044 — the highest on record. The number of children in average attendance was, in 1887, 6,316; and in 1906, 7,935.05. The number of children on school registers in 1899 was 9,329, as against 8,938 in 1906. The percentage of attendance in 1906 was 89.1; in 1905 it was 86.7; in 1904, 86.6) and in 1903, 87.1. Tables 31 and 32 give details of the income and expenditure of school boards, and of managers of primary schools other than board schools.

Tables 33 and 34 deal with the income and expenditure of the Lunatic Asylum yearly from 1897 to 1906; and tables 35 to 56 with the income and expenditure of the various Boards of Guardians.

Table 57 gives particulars of the inmates of the Lunatic Asylum for the years 1897-1906. In 1896 the total number of patients under treatment during the year was 254, and the daily average number was 192.5. In 1906 these figures were respectively 265 and 200.1. The most prolific year for patients was 1905, when the total number under treatment for the year was 278, while the daily average was 212.

Table 58 contains particulars of the Home for the Poor inmates in the years 1897-1906. The average daily number resident in 1897 was 94.7, and in 1906 this number was 84.25. 1898 was the record year, the average being 107.8. Table 59 gives the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in the Island, inclusive of persons in the Home for the Poor, in the 20 half-years 1897-1906. The figure for the June half-year, 1897, was 937; and for the December half-year, 1897, 1,053. The corresponding figures for June and December, 1906, were respectively 871 and 963. The record half-year was December, 1897, when the figure was 105.3. Tables 60 and 61 deal with the income and expenditure of the Home for the Poor for the years 1897-1906. The average in both instances is about £1,600. Tables 62 and 63 have reference to the amounts raised and paid under the Cattle Diseases Prevention Acts in the years 1897-1906. These amounts are very trifling.

Tables 64a-64d relate to the amount of rates and other sources of receipts of the Corporation of Douglas, and the Commissioners in the several towns, village districts, and parish districts, in the years 1897-1906; and tables 65a-65d contain particulars of the various branches of expenditure of those bodies.

The mortgage debts of the Manx local authorities in the years 1897-1906 (after crediting sinking fund balances) are detailed in table 66. The debt of the Douglas Corporation in 1897 was £308,359, and in 1906 it was £605,742. The following are the respective figures for Commissioners of towns and village districts: — Ramsey, 1897, £75,433; 1906, £65,981. Peel, 1897, £3,364; 1906, £11,475. Castletown, 1897, £2,566; 1906, £2,476. Port Erin, 1897, £730; 1906, £6,937. Port St. Mary, 1897, £667; 1906, £3,138. Onchan, 1897, nil; 1906, £3,104. The School Board debts increased from £28,217 in 1897, to £59,270 in 1906. The net local debts of local authorities was, in 1897, £419,496; and in 1907 the figure was £758,123.

The total amount of rates and other receipts for the purpose of Local Government in the Isle of Man (including primary, schools) is given in Table 67 as from the years 1897 to 1906. The figures for the respective years are: —

1897, £201,504.
1898, £151,086.
1899, £140,974.
1900, £197,460.
1901, £323,551.
1902, £412,114.
1903, £154,988.
1904, £164,152
1905, £185,211.
1906, £252,835

Lest the ratepayers should faint at contemplation of some of these amounts, it were well to explain that loans contracted during the particular year are mainly responsible for the bigger sums — for instance, out of the total of £412,114 received in 1902, no less a sum than £312,034 consisted of loans. The details of the 1906 receipts are as follow: — Rates, £69,427 ; Government contributions, including grants for educational purposes, £20,004; loans, £57,492; sales of property, etc., £337; school fees, etc., £1004: duties on carriages and dogs, and public house and other licenses, £6,711 ; other receipts, £97,820. It seems rather a pity that details are not supplied of "other receipts." £97,820 is a biggish sum !

Tables 68 and 69 contain particulars of rates levied and expenditure incurred by the various classes of Local Government bodies, and are practically summaries of figures given in other tables.

Table 70 has reference to the voting strength of electoral districts under the House of Keys' Election Acts in each year from 1897 to 1906. The 1906 figures are as follow: — Glenfaba Sheading (three members), 1,199. Michael Sheading (two members), 635; Ayre Sheading (three members), 1,011; Garff Sheading (two members), 990; :Middle Sheading (three members), 1,108; Rushen Sheading (three members), 1,872; Peel (one member), 920; Ramsey (one member), 1,213; North Douglas (three members), 3,460; South Douglas (two members), 1,851; Castletown (one member), 592.

In Table 71 details of the gross and rateable valuation of the various districts of the Island are given for the years 1897-1906. The rateable annual value of the Island in 1897 was £368,840, and in 1906 it was £398,845. The rateable value of the towns and principal villages in the years 1897 and 1906 respectively were : — Douglas, 1897, £129,625, 1906, £157,253; Ramsey, 1897, £23,057, 1906, L23,987; Peel, 1897, 210,547, 1906, £10,816; Castletown, 1897, £7,178, 1906, 27,457; Port Erin, 1897, £3,463, 1906, £6,335; Port St. Mary, 1897, 0203, 1906, £5,328; Laxey, 1897, £4,181, 1906, 95,142; Onchan, 1897, £6,683, 1906, £9,031. Tables 72 and 73 deal with the unpleasant subject of crime. It is, however, gratifying to find that crime on the whole is on the downgrade in the Isle of Man. In 1887 there were 1,468 convictions for all classes of offences in the Island, whereas in 1906 the number was but 875. High-water mark in crime was reached in 1890, when there were 1,505 convictions. The year with least crime was 1901, with 801 convictions. Although not so stated in the tables, it is perhaps as well to say that the decrease is mainly occasioned by fewer charges of drunkenness being preferred of late years.

Table 74 gives the strength of the Isle of Man Constabulary in the years 1897-1906. In 1897 the permanent strength of the police was 57, and in 1906 it was 69. In addition to the permanent police, 13 constables are employed in regulating the traffic on the Douglas Landing Piers, and are under the control of the Harbour Board. Only four of these pier constables are employed during the winter months. In Tables 75A and 75B particulars are given as to the quantities of minerals raised in the Isle of Man, and of the estimated values of such minerals. In 1896, 4,953 tons of lead ore and 1,489 tons of zinc ore were raised, and the amount of silver obtainable from the lead ore was 107,643 ounces. In 1905, 3,070 tons of lead ore and 1,960 tons of zinc ore were raised, and the amount of silver obtainable from the lead ore was 41,878 ounces. Estimated values of the principal minerals raised in 1896 were respectively as follow

Lead, £43,967; zinc, £4,834; silver, £13,972. In 1905, these estimated values were as follow: — Lead, £29,563; zinc, £12,591 ; silver, £4,886. Details are also given as to clay, granite, limestone, salt, sandstone, slate, whinstone, gravel, etc. As to salt, the quantities raised and values in 1903-1905 were as follow: — 1903, quantity, 873 tons, value, £553; 1904, quantity, 2,847 tons, value, £1,708; 1905, quantity, 2,923 tons, value, £2,025. The Manx limestone and granite industries show a tendency to fall off, but the sandstone industry gives signs of improvement.