400 



machinery, economies in the expenses of treatment, the result of 

 which has been that whilst sale prices have remained at a most 

 profitable figure, the cost of production has steadily decreased. 



That there is a bright future for those engaged in the production 

 of Zapupe, there can be but little doubt, the value of the fibre 

 having been proved beyond the experimental stage, in addition to 

 which it has been shown that it possesses both for toughness and 

 tensile strength, the necessary qualities to admit of its 

 worked up into " binder twine," and even more profitable use 

 than its manufacture into rope. As a matter of fact, probably over 

 ninety per cent, of the Sisal to-day produced and exported from 

 the peninsula of Yucatan to the United States is made into 

 w binder twine," and even with this there is a constant demand 

 for other raw materials as substitutes. 



being 



It may prove of interest to prospective Zapupe planters to learn 

 the gigantic strides that have taken place in the production of Sisal 

 during the last twenty-five years, which are shown by the 

 following table showing the quantities and value of the exports 

 of this produce from Yucatan alone. It is also worthy of note 

 that at its lowest selling price of three-and-a-half cents Mexican 

 per pound, (the Mexican cent is about equal to one farthing) there 

 was still a margin of profit to the planter, whose gains were simply 

 notorious throughout the country when the maximum price of 

 nineteen-and-a-half cents Mexican per pound was attained :— 



Years. 



1880 

 1881 

 1882 

 1883 

 1884 

 1885 

 1886 

 1887 

 1888 

 1889 



1890 

 1891 

 1892 

 1893 

 1894 

 1895 

 1896 

 1897 

 1898 

 1899 



1900 

 1901 

 1902 

 1903 

 1904 

 1905 

 1906 



• • • 



• • 



• • ■ 



• • • 



• • « 



• • • 



• • 



• ft • 



• • ■ 



• • » 



• • ■ 



• ft ft 



• fl • 



• t • 



■ • - 



• « • 



• • • 



• V ■ 



• • * 



• ■ • 



• ft 



• • - 



• • 



• • * 



• ft m 



• ft • 



• • • 



• • • 



• ft • 



• • • 



• ■ • 



• • • 



« • • 



• • 



• • a 



• * - 



• t 



» • ft 



• • ■ 



» • • 



- - - 



. . . 



• ft • 



•> • » 



* • • 



• • • 



112,911 



154,730 



150,58."i 



202,805 

 261,137 

 267,478 

 242,791 



224,865 



218,129 

 252,432 



279,907 

 323,585 

 363,881 

 360,857 

 373,773 

 383,413 

 397,163 

 419,975 

 418,972 

 445,978 



499,634 

 517,519 

 528,246 

 590,430 

 606,00^ 

 597,289 

 599,568 



Weight in Metric 

 Tons. 



18,179 

 24,911 



24,244 

 32,651 



42.043 



43,064 



39,089 



36,283 



35,118 



40,641 



45,079 

 52,065 



58,584 

 58,097 

 61,605 



61,729 

 65,762 

 70,545 

 68,831 

 73,190 



81,093 



83,191 



83,993 



93,058 

 97,2( 16 



96,534 



9 7, 1 98 



Total Value of 

 Exports. 



£ 

 177,757 

 272,656 

 273,655 



353,750 

 347,164 



333,481 

 392,972 

 589,442 

 664,125 



1,024,369 



523,030 

 657,168 

 839,994 

 846,713 



684,817 

 611,219 

 726,423 

 821,869 

 1,891,807 

 2,021,124 



2,261,603 

 2,278,345 

 3,643,279 

 3,333,115 

 3,202,258 

 2,962,543 

 2,724,752 



