PARANA PINJ': OF SOUTHERN BRAZIL 61 



ihe small coastwise vessels of the Lage Brothers, of Rio, a native 

 private company, or the smaller ships of the Lloyd Brasileiro, a Gov- 

 ernment concern. Larger ships than 5,000 tons with more than 15 

 feet depth of draught cannot enter these ports because of the shallow 

 bays in which they are situated. Channels have been dredged, but the 

 constant shifting of the sand necessitates almost continuous attention. 

 With such small vessels the cargo space is of necessity very limited, 

 and is usually taken up with the more staple form of products, such as 

 coffee, oils, cotton, sugar, etc., so that when a consignment of lumber 

 is to be shipped it has to be taken in several shipments in small deck 

 loads at a time. This not only increases the freight charges, but it also 

 means that a large consignment will come dribbling into the market for 

 .several months before the entire lot is moved. The writer had the 

 opportunity of seeing an actual case of this in May, 1918. We were 

 on our way from Santos to Porto Alegre on board the S.S. Itauba, one 

 of the Lage boats, and spent a day in the harbors of Paranagua and 

 Anotnina. Our ship was already fairly well loaded, and at both places 

 there were consignments of Parana pine lumber waiting. Some of 

 each consignment was placed on the forward deck, but the bulk had to 

 be left behind through lack of room. The conditions of cafgo space 

 on sailing vessels, which call more or less frequently, are much the 

 same as for the steamers. 



Another feature that has held back the development of this valuable 

 timber is that of the State export tax, one of the "most iniquitous" of 

 ihe Brazilian tax laws. Every article of produce sent out of a State is 

 taxed by the State, no matter if it only goes over the line into the bor- 

 dering State. With some products it is not so important, but with 

 lumber it is a very serious matter. Imagine, if you can, California 

 taxing a shipment of douglas fir bound for Nevada! Yet this is an 

 actual fact in Brazil, and one cause for the lack of advancement of 

 the nation. 



With these two features, high cost of transportation and unfair 

 taxes, it is no wonder that Parana pine has not long ago come into its 

 own and demanded the respect of lumbermen in the United States as a 

 possible competitor in South America and abroad. Improved condi- 

 tions in shipping are already pretty well under way, but the tax laws 

 are in the hands of the Brazilian Government, and — "quien sabe!" 



