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INTRODUCTION.
501
very brisk; moreover, by reason of the great differences in the
character and products of the various provinces, to which reference was
made above, interchange of these products is conducted on a very
extensive scale, causing the internal trade of the country to be unusually
large. By means, too, of a railway system, that in proportion to the
population of the country is the greatest in Europe, the vast distances
and consequent inconveniences have been to an appreciable extent
lessened, and the interior parts of the country have thereby also been
opened up to foreign commerce. External commerce has made great
advances during the last few decades; it is, however, without doubt still
capable of very considerable improvement. That is specially the case
with regard to Navigation on foreign countries, which a revival of
interest is seeking to arouse from the state of torpor into which a chain
of unfavourable circumstances forced it during the last quarter of the
19th century. The very considerable progress made, notwithstanding,
since 1870, in commerce and navigation, is best seen by reference to
Table 55, where the great increase in the numbers of those earning
their living thereby may be observed.
Fishery occupies a less important place. It is true that the
innumerable lakes and rivers in the interior of the country, no less than
the seas encompassing it, are in many places well supplied with fish, yet
their resources in this regard do not compare with those of the world’s
oceans. Moreover, for a not inconsiderable part of the year the waters
of Sweden are frozen hard, the scope for the industry of fishing being
thereby materially restricted. Finally Shooting that in earlier times
constituted a very important source of livelihood, can no longer be
counted as such or as a special branch of pursuit to that end.
Nowa-•iays, it can only be regarded as primarily a form of diversion or sport.
This brief account will have been sufficient to show that the
sources of livelihood in Sweden are multifarious and far-reaching.
Furthermore, it appears from what has been said that Sweden is in
the midst of a transforming process that has been in progress for a
generation, and the ultimate goal of which is: the conversion of the
raw-product industry into a manufacturing one and the invasion of
modern industrialism into every department of the occupations of the
ptople. In other words, the phases of development experienced in the
great civilized countries are also in evidence in Sweden. Concomitant
with them, too, here as there, is a constantly increasing well-being
among the people and a rapid growth in national prosperity. We
purpose to touch in brief outline also upon this phase of Sweden’s
national economy, together with its recent developments.
Before proceeding to these calculations, it may be well for us to
present an idea of the fluctuations of Sweden’s economical life in our days
by giving certain data concerning this matter for the years 18(56—1900.
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