FISHERIES AND GUANO INDUSTRY OF PERU, 363 
price for each unit below 9. Another type of contract might cover a larger 
quantity of guano, say 5,000 tons, to be delivered during four years, certain 
stated amounts to be made available each year. The contractor, having calcu- 
lated the amount of guano necessary to fulfill his contracts for a given year, 
applies to the Ministerio de Hacienda (corresponding to our Department of the 
Treasury) for a concession to take such and such amounts of guano from stated 
islands, and, if the concession be awarded, the contractor pays to the govern- 
ment 1 sol for each ton conceded. In case of failure to obtain the amount 
asked for, and on which payment has been made, the government adjusts the 
matter equitably by continuing the balance of the concession to the following 
season or refunding the proportionate part of the payment. 
This introduces one of the weakest points in the present method of extrac- 
tion. It frequently happens that two or three or more concessionists are 
authorized to take guano from the same island. Only one who has lived on 
the islands while the working was in progress can appreciate the bitterness of 
competition that ensues. The disputes, the threats, and the personal violence 
which may arise are aside from the question. It is the effect upon the birds 
that is of vital moment. 
Since it is understood that a concessionist establishes finally his claim to 
any deposit of guano by throwing this into piles, and since the best of the 
guano is found at the rookeries, disaster to the birds is inevitable. The first 
party to arrive, or the strongest, as the case may be, obtains possession of the 
rookery, and within a few days the entire breeding ground is torn up and the 
birds completely routed, without regard to the presence of immature birds or 
unhatched eggs. Under a better system a responsible contractor would at 
least allow the birds to use a portion of the ground, while, with as much consid- 
eration of them as possible, the guano was being extracted from the remainder. 
I should not omit to add that I have seen some concessionists working in this 
intelligent way where there was due opportunity. (Fig. 8, pl. xv.) 
The government has not failed to recognize the necessity for protection 
of the birds. The destruction of birds or of eggs has been made a penal offense, 
and it is now practically stopped. It is a difficult matter to keep a thorough 
surveillance of a long coast, where the towns are widely removed, and of many 
islands, some of which are miles from the mainland. MHence there is still some 
violation of these laws, and the potoyunco, as has been mentioned, suffers 
especially from such depredation. At times, too, the eggs of more important 
birds may be taken, but the wholesale robbery of nests has been practically 
eliminated. Formerly the eggs were valued for food and for use of the albumen 
in clarifying wines, and it is said that enormous quantities were taken regularly. 
That which most concerns the present government is how to regulate the 
working of the islands so ‘that the necessary amount of guano may be taken 
