201 
enable them to make certain experiments that might lead to satis- 
factory results. It so happened, that this communication was 
received just a day or two previous to the dispatching of a boat 
and crew which had been prepared for the Canje Creek for the 
purpose of collecting a quantity of the gum meant to be submitted 
to the Gutta Percha Company of London. No delay was therefore 
experienced in the matter. The quantity of balata asked for by 
the Messrs. Silver was promptly forwarded, and this, followed by 
larger shipments, formed the initiatory of a new trade in the Canje 
reek.” 
In many of its properties balata is stated to occupy an inter- 
mediate position between india-rubber and gutta percha, possessing 
the elasticity of the one ani ductility of the other, without the 
intractability of the former or the brittleness of the latter, thus 
becoming under certain circumstances more valuable than either 
for industrial purposes. It is found in commerce both in block 
for i eets and is chiefly used as a substitute for gutta 
ercha, and amongst other applications is employed in the mannu- 
facture of belting for machinery, hose, solid tyres, moulded goods, 
tubing, fruit jar rings, boot soles, 
year, but this is accounted for by the fact that negotiations were 
proceeding between an English Company, “The Consolidated 
Rubber and Balata Estates Limited,” and some of the larger balata 
licencees in the Colony for the transfers of their holdings. These 
negotiations were not brought to a close until the end of the year, 
and little work was done on the tracts meanwhile. 
manner laid down by the Government, they extract as much as 
possible from each tree ; this practice, if allowed to continue, must 
eventually bring the industry to an end. It is desirable that a 
sufficient number of trustworthy inspectors or warderis should be 
appointed to protect the trees by seeing that the existing laws are 
observed, and so to preserve one of the most valuable assets of the 
Colony. With regard to labour it appears that many more men 
are being employed this year; recently 100 men were imported 
from St. Lucia for the work; these had, of course, no previous 
experience. 
Quoting from Diplomatic and Cousular Report No. 4411, Annual 
Series, on the trade and commerce of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, 
for the year 1909 it appears that balata (block) was exported to the 
extent of 1624 metric tons. The high price prevailing for this 
article has stimulated its production. The system of felling the 
