Danmarks Handel og Industri

XXVI Amongst these goods may be mentioned coffee and other colonial products, furthermore silk-goods and textile products, also a rather extensive trade in ready-made dresses; in this connection may also be mentioned different kinds of wood from countries overseas, such as teak etc. Of other goods, which are of consequence in this trade may be mentioned hides and skins, leather goods, and metal goods of different kinds. From the depots of the large companies in Copenhagen’s Free Port, a considerable quantity of petroleum is forwarded to the neighbouring countries. On the other hand, inter alia, a great quantity of paper and pulp from Sweden, and eggs from Russia are forwarded via Copenhagen Westward, but above all a considerable trade with Swedish, and more especially with Russo-Siberian butter is carried on via Copenhagen. A series of Danish firms have their own businessses in Siberia, in which country a very considerable dairy industry has been developed with the support of Danish dairymen, and the products of this industry find their way to the European markets via Copenhagen. Still another thing must be mentioned viz: that the transit trade of Copenhagen also includes the products of Iceland and the Faroe Islands, such as split cod, salted herrings, wool, mutton and other merchandises. But all this however is merely an outline, the possibilities for the development of the above mentioned transit trade being unlimited. The traffic on the Free Port of Copenhagen has also been growing so rapidly in later years that it has constantly been necessary to undertake new extensions, while at the same time the old harbour of Copenhagen has undergone considerable development. It may be said without exaggeration that the Port of Copenhagen in its present form, is by far the most important Port in northern Europe, and on the strength of its position and entire construction it offers international trade and shipping every possible facility as an excellently situated distributing centre for the Baltic countries. Shipping. It is an old maxim that trade follows the flag, and down through the times the Danish flag — »Dannebrog« a white cross on a red ground — has been flying from Danish ships over the seas to distant ports. So early as in the 16th—17th century, Denmark took a brisk part in the overseas trade, both towards East and West, and it is mentioned in the foregoing pages, how Danish shipping, during the so-called »brilliant commercial