REPORT.

SIR,

DEPARTMENT OF MINES,

Halifax, February 8, 1872.

I have the honor to submit, for the information of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, the customary Report respecting the Mines of this Province for the year ending December 31st, 1871.

It is gratifying to be enabled to state that there has been a satisfactory increase over that of last year in the products of the Collieries, in each of the Coal Mining centres. In Cumberland County there was an increase this year over the Coal mined last year of 3500 tons; in Pictou of 19,000 tons; and in Cape Breton of 15,000 tons: the total increase in the quantity of round:Coal mined during the year being 38,000 tons. This increase, it is significant to notice, was obtained during an unusually short working season, which was brought to an end sooner than is customary, by the closing of navigation very suddenly and early, and the setting in of severe weather in November last. The increase above reported would, of course, have been much greater had the season been of the ordinary and average character.

The Gold mines have been worked steadily, and in many cases profitably. The returns, indeed, shew a small decrease in the yearly standard of production; but they are quite as good as could be expected, taking into consideration the scarcity of men and the consequent high price of labour. There has, perhaps, teen no year since the commencement of Gold mining in this Province during which the business has been of a more legitimate character than it was in 1871; there has been no unhealthy speculations, and the losses