18 THECUBAREVIEW 



Translations into Spanish.— Invoices must be translated into Spanish and presented in the 

 Custom House in Cuba together with other papers. It is not absolutely necessary for an ex- 

 porter in foreign country to make out the invoices in Spanish, but the importer in Cuba, or his 

 Custom House broker, must make the translation and present the same in the Custom House. 

 When the invoices are made in any other language than Spanish it is likely to cause some 

 delay in the Custom House despatch. Exporters who wish to build up a prosperous ])usiness 

 in Spanish-speaking countries can never make a success unless they are willing to send the 

 invoices in Spanish. 



Advertising Matter Without Value. — Net weight must be given in the invoice and a state- 

 ment may be made that articles have no commercial value. Estimated values must be given, 

 and if this is not done, the goods will have to pay duty. Advertising matter without any 

 commercial value, in small quantities, is generally admitted free of duty in Cuba. 



Articles and Goods Shipped by Other Parties.— When an exporter in the United States 

 combines in his shipment goods purchased or shipped by other parties, prices and net weights, 

 also gross weight must be given. 



,S7, oes. ^Shoes are imported into Cuba in very large quantities. Shoes in the Custom 

 House in Cuba are divided in three classes as follows: 



Class No. 1. Men's shoes, sizes No. 5 or larger, which pay duty at the rate of 

 $0.1365 per pair and an additional 9.1% ad valorem. 



Class No. 2. boys', young men's, ladies' and misses' shoes, which pay duty at 

 the rate of $0.91 per pair and an additional 9.1% ad valorem. 



Class No. 3. children's shoes. No. 93^2 and smaller, which pay duty at the 

 rate of $0,455 per pair and an additional 9.1% ad valorem. 



If any other articles other than shoes, laces, buttons, etc., are shipped in the same ship- 

 ment with shoes, the net weight and value of these other articles must be given distinctly 

 in invoice. In invoice give sizes of shoes. Some exTJorters mark on the outside of the box 

 the number of pairs contained therein, which is a very good idea. As shoes are a kind of 

 merchandise which often suffers loss en route, such goods should be carefully packed and the 

 boxes wired. Ship shoes in packages or box as per invoice and do not invoice as placed in 

 a certain box while the goods are actually placed in some other box. In the Custom House 

 in Cuba for shipments of shoes, the shoes are counted pair by pair and the Custom House 

 appraiser and the Custom House broker must both be satisfied that shipment is complete 

 and nothing lacking. 



Documents Not Signed.— The shipping documents for ex-port shipments are often sent 

 abroad without being properly signed and shipments have been held up in foreign Custom 

 Houses on this account. Exporters in the United States should see that documents for export 

 shipments are properly signed. 



Documents in Duplicate. — In most Custom Houses all documents must be presented in 

 duplicate which should be remembered by exporters in the United States. This does not 

 apply in general to Bills of Lading as in mostCastom Houses, but one copy of the Bill of Lading 

 is required. 



White Metal, Britannic Metal and Nickel— In sending to foreign countries goods man- 

 ufactured of white metal, britannic metal and nickel, do not invoice as manufactured ot such 

 material unless actually the case. Some exporters invoice goods as white metal, etc., when 

 goods are manufactured of steel plated. This applies particularly to nickel. Invoices are 

 often received stating that goods are nickel when, as a matter of fact, the goods are nickel 

 plated. 



Packing List.— The system used by some exporters, particularly of machinery, of giving 

 weights in a packing list separate from the invoice, is not satisfactory. Often the packing 

 list is lost or the owner of the goods fails to send the packing list to the Custom House broker 

 who finds that he has no data whatever of weights. It is advisable and best to give weights 

 in the invoice and, if desired, a packing list may also be sent, but give all necessary particulars 

 and information in the invoice. 



/p^^gs^—Fines are often placed in foreign countries on goods particularly for mistakes 



