DARDANELLES (Turk. Sultanieh Kalehsi, or Chanak Kalehsi)  , the chief town and seat of government of the lesser Turkish province of Bigha, Asia Minor . It is situated at the mouth of the Rhodius, and at the narrowest part of the strait of the Dardanelles, where its span is but a mile across . Its recent growth has been rapid, and it possesses a lyceum, a military hospital, a public garden, a theatre, quays and water-works . Exclusive of the garrison, the population is estimated at 13,000, of whom one-half are Turkish, and the remainder Greek, Jewish, Armenian and European . The town contains many mosques, Greek, Armenian and Catholic churches, and a synagogue . There is a resident Greek bishop . The civil governor, and the military command-ants of the numerous fortresses on each side of the strait, are stationed here . Many important works have been added to the defences . The Ottoman fleet is stationed at Nagara (anc . Abydos) . The average annual number of merchant vessels passing the strait is 12,000 and the regular commercial vessels calling at the port of Dardanelles are represented by numerous foreign agencies . Besides the Turkish telegraph service, the Eastern Telegraph Company has a station at Dardanelles, andthere are Turkish, Austrian, French and Russian post offices .

The import

trade consists of manufactures, sugar, flour, coffee, rice, leather and iron . The export trade consists of valonia (largely produced in the province), wheat, barley, beans, chick-peas, canary seed, liquorice root, pine and oak timber, wine and pottery . Excepting in the items of wine and pottery, the export trade shows steady increase . Every year sees a larger area of land brought under cultivation by immigrants, and adds to the number of mature (i.e. fruit-bearing) valonia trees . Vine-growers are discouraged by heavy fiscal charges, and by the low price of wine; many have uprooted their vineyards . The pottery trade is affected by change of fashion, and the factories are losing their importance . The lower quarters of the town were heavily damaged in the winter of 190o--19or by repeated inundations caused by the overflow of the Rhodius . See V . Cuinet, Turquie d'Asie (Paris, 1890-1900) .