No important new developments in connection with oil shale took place in 1928. In the Scottish oil-shale industry following the curtailment of operations and abandonment of certain retorting units in 1927, shale treatment was maintained at the rate of about 2,000,000 tons per year. The future of the Scottish industry is not at all secure, although the industry has been aided by the imposition of a tax of4d. per gallon on imported motor spirits. The tone of the chairman's speech at the annual meeting of Scottish Oils on June 11, 1928 was not optimistic as regards the future shale operations of the company. According to the latest reports, production and retorting of oil shale continues at about the same rate as in the last few years. In Estonia mining of oil shale for direct utilization as fuel in certain areas has continued and much work has been done on experimental and semi-commercial retorts, but so far commercial production of shale oil has not been obtained. In Manchuria, a Japanese company is said to be constructing a large retorting plant for treating the shales in the Fushun district. This plant should be in operation during 1929.