Tariff on gem stones.—The rates of duty on gem stones imported into
the United States are as follows, according to schedule A, "Statistical Classification
of Imports into the United States,". Bureau of ,Foreign and Domestic Commerce,
effective January 1, 1933:

Tariff on gem stones
Rate of duty, percest
C1a88
Diamonds:
Rough or uncut
Cut but not set, suitable for jewelry______________________ Glaziers' and
engravers', unset, miners'                   
Pearls and parts, not strung or set___________________________
Emeralds, rough or uncut
Other precious and semiprecious stones, rough or uncut
Emeralds, cut but not set
Other precious and semiprecious stones, cut but not set___________
Imitation precious stones, not cut or faceted, and imitation semiprecious
stones, not faceted_________________________________
Imitation precious stones, cut or faceted, and imitation semiprecious stones,
faceted________________________________________
Imitation of opaque precious or semiprecious stones, with flat backs and
tops, cut and polished but not faceted
Imitation pearls, according to make and size -
Marcasites ("sulphur diamonds"):
ReaL.....
Imitation___________________________________


FOREIGN PRODUCTION.
PRECIOUS AND SEMIPRECIOUS STONES
803







Free 10
Free
10
Free
Free
10
10

60

20

60
40 to 90

20
20



 According to Meisner (see Bibliography), 92 percent of the World production
of precious stones from 1870 to 1925 was diamonds, 3 percent rubies and sapphires,
2.5 percent emeralds, 0.75 percent each opals and amber, and the remaining
1 percent all other gems combined. South Africa was the most important producer
throughout the period due to the preponderance of its diamond output. The
following table, summarized from Meisner's study, indicates the effect on
production for 1913—26 of the World War, the business recession of
1920—21, and the rise of such producers as the Belgian Congo, Gold
Coast, and British Guiana.

World diamond production, 1913—26 1
Year
(Jarats
Year
Carats
I Year
Carats
Year
Carats
1913       
1914       
1915       
1916       
6,750,000
4,230,000
185,000
2,650,000
1917      
1918      
1919      
1920      
3,400,000
3,140,000
3,402,000
3,615,000
1921      
1922      
1923      
1924      
1, 500,000
1,435,000
.3,605,000
3,840,000
1925      
1926   
*
4,250,000
5,000,000
I The total carats listed for the period are equivalent to 10~~ short tons.

182217—33—52