========+===========+=============+===========+=============+============ | Price of | Price of | Price of | | Robberies, Years. | Wheat per | Wine per | Meat per | Homicides | Extortion, | 1000 | Hectolitre. | Kilo. | Prosecuted. | Blackmail. | Kilos. | (Sicily.) | (Sicily.) | | --------+-----------+-------------+-----------+-------------+------------ 1875 | 27.42 | 13.00 | 3.09 | -- | 658 1876 | 28.78 | 21.62 | 2.91 | -- | 1,039 1877 | 33.66 | 30.38 | 2.98 | -- | 777 1878 | 31.43 | 29.04 | 2.89 | -- | 1,110 1879 | 31.35 | 19.03 | 2.80 | -- | 1,138 1880 | 32.27 | 29.65 | 2.74 | 1,063 | 829 1881 | 26.36 | 30.92 | 2.74 | 1,001 | 708 1882 | 20.42 | 28.35 | 2.80 | 938 | 560 1883 | 23.11 | 22.11 | 2.75 | 943 | 419 1884 | 21.52 | 17.95 | 2.77 | 949 | 340 1885 | 21.24 | 31.84 | 2.76 | 822 | 330 1886 | 21.28 | 35.63 | 2.42 | 859 | 418 1887 | 21.48 | 15.66 | 2.44 | 863 | 446 1888 | 21.50 | 11.85 | 2.46 | 899 | 485 1889 | 22.83 | 15.06 | 2.40 | 865 | 478 1890 | 22.63 | 22.07 | 2.46 | 869 | 547 1891 | 24.60 | 16.92 | 2.77 | 966 | 710 1892 | 24.32 | 14.32 | 2.87 | 1,117 | 677 1893 | 21.08 | 15.76 | 2.95 | 1,066 | 902 1894 | 18.77 | 18.38 | 2.98 | -- | -- 1895 | 20.30 | 18.42 | 2.75 | -- | -- ========+===========+=============+===========+=============+============ c. The mining zone. The production of sulphur, formerly of great importance, when Sicily was the principal source of supply for Europe and America, has decreased greatly now that sulphur is manufactured from chemical products. The condition of the miners is pitiful. The mines are often exploited by middle-men, which makes the condition of the laborers worse. Degeneracy has consequently taken on enormous proportions. When we compare the change in wages with the number of thefts, we see that thefts decrease when wages rise, and vice versa, and that the price of grain also influences criminality. It is the provinces of Sicily where the sulphur mines are found that give the highest figures for criminality in general, and homicide in particular.