UNITED STATES TARIFF COMMISSION IVORY, UNMANUFACTURED Comment Ivory is obtained from the tusks of various animals. Ivory is usually thought of as coming exclusively from the tusks of elephants, but considerable quantities are obtained also from other animals, such as the walrus, narwhal, sperm-whale, rhinocerous, hippopotamus, and wild boar. 1/ Most of the ivory, however, is obtained from elephant tusks, and for most purposes such ivory is considered of superior quality to that obtained from other animals. Ivory obtained from elephant tusks is usually of larger size than that obtained from other animals and can be used to fashion a wider variety of articles. Ivory is used principally in making piano keys, billiard balls, bangles (worn by natives, principally in India), cutlery handles, and ornaments. Other articles commonly made of ivory include dice, draughtsmen, chessmen, poker chips, dominoes, novelties, and objects of art. 2/ In the United States the principal use of ivory tusks has been in making piano keys and billard balls. In recent years, plastics materials, being cheaper and easier to form into finished articles, have to a large extent replaced ivory in the manufacture of these and many other products. There is no production of ivory in continental United States. Some ivory is obtained in Alaska, chiefly from walrus tusks, but the quantity is believed to be small. United States imports of unmanufactured ivory have long shown a downward trend. Average annual imports declined from over 330,000 pounds in 1921-27 to about 64,000 pounds in 1937-39. In 1946-48 imports averaged 42,000 pounds annually, valued at $136,000 (foreign value); in 1948 they amounted to 38,000 pounds, valued at $110,000. Imports have come chiefly from African countries where most of the crude ivory entering world trade originates. Some ivory, probably largely of African origin, is regularly imported from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands where important ivory tusk auctions are held. 1 Some ivory is obtained from the tusks of the prehistoric mammoth and mastodon. Much of the ivory found in the skeletons of these animals, however, is badly deteriorated and almost worthless. 2/ For manufactures of ivory (all of which are dutiable) see separate summaries on the following: Beads and beaded articles, par. 1503; buttons and parts, except of pearl or shell, vegetable ivory, metal, and imitation jet, par. 1510; dice, dominoes, draughts, chessmen, and billiard, pool, and bagatelle balls, and poker chips, par. 1512; combs, except combs of metal or hard rubber, par. 1537(c); pianos and parts, par. 1541; and manufactures of ivory, n.s.p.f., par. 1538. SUMMARIES OF TARIFF INFORMATION JET, UNMANUFACTURED Tariff Status Par. 1702. Jet, unmanufactured, which was free of duty under the Tariff Act of 1922, is free of duty also under the Tariff Act of 1930. Comment Jet is a hard, compact, homogeneous, and deep-black variety of lignite which is tough enough to be turned on a lathe and is made into various ornamental articles such as buttons, dress trimmings, beads, and inexpensive jewelry. 1/ The demand for jet has been declining for a number of years largely as a result of the increased use of black cryptocrystalline varieties of quartz, sometimes artificially colored, such as chalcedony and others. Stones and ornamental articles cut from quartz are harder than jet, wear better and retain their polish longer. Obsidian, glass, and plastics are often used also in imitation of jet. Jet occurs in the United States in many localities and deposits of excellent quality have been found in Utah and in many places in Colorado. As far as is known, however, jet has never been mined commercially in this country, although small quantites have been produced and sold as mineralogical specimens. Virtually all of the jet used for ornamental purposes has been produced in England, Spain, France, Germany, and Austria. Whitby, in Yorkshire, England, was long famous as the source of much of the world's finest jet, but its deposits have been gradually exhausted and its industry has steadily declined. There have been no United States imports or exports of unmanufactured jet since the 1920's. See separate summary on alabaster and jet wholly or partly manufactured into vases and other articles (principally artware), dutiable under par. 233. SUMMARIES OF TARIFF INFORMATION JOSS STICK OR JOSS LIGHT (PAR. 1703) Tariff Status Par. 1703. Joss stick or joss light, which was free of duty under the Tariff Act of 1922, is free of duty also under the Tariff Act of 1930. Its duty-free status was bound in the Geneva agreement, effective May 22, 1948. Trade Statistics Table 1.- Joss stick or joss light: United States imports for consumption, by principal sources, in specified years, 1937 to 1948 Source: Official statistics of the U. S. Department of Commerce. Note.- Production of joss stick or joss light in the United States, if any, insignificant. Exports are negligible. is UNITED STATES TARIFF COMMISSION JOSS STICK OR JOSS LIGHT (PAR. 1703) Comment Joss stick or joss light is made of granulated odoriferous woods, aromatic gums, saltpeter, and a binder. It is made in the form of thin sticks (usually with a bamboo core), cones, balls, and other shapes. Certain people in China and Japan, and possibly in other Far Eastern countries, burn joss stick as a part of their religious services. 1/ United States imports of joss stick or joss light averaged about $29,000 a year during 1937-39 (see table 1). Imports ceased during the war but amounted to $42,000 in 1947 and to $62,000 in 1948. Japan, China, and Hong Kong are virtually the only sources of imports. Joss stick or joss light is not produced in the United States in significant quantities, if at all. 1 Joss stick is also used as a deodorant or insect repellant, but when these uses are indicated at the time of importation the product is called punk and is dutiable at 20 percent ad valorem under par. 1558 as a manufactured product, not specially provided for. |