FISHERIES OF PORTO RICO. 9 



Large sliipments of any fish products that the trade is not familiar 

 with would not at present be recommended, but articles of good quality, 

 packed to stand the climate, will find a market when they become known. 



State of trade February 1, 1899. — As might be expected, under a 

 change of government and unsettled financial conditions, the amount 

 of business during the past few months has been light as compared 

 with the same seasons of past years. The values mentioned are on a 

 basis of Porto Rican or Spanish money, which often fluctuates. On 

 February 1, 1899, $100 United States money was equal to 166 pesos, 

 or Spanish silver dollars. Sales continue to be made on a basis of six 

 months' time and discount of 7^ per cent. An improvement has been 

 noticed, and encouragement is felt for the future. Each of the past 

 three months shows increased imports. The following account of the 

 receipts of fish has been furnished by Messrs. Fritz Lundt & Co., of 

 Ponce: 



Novemher, 189S: The only arrival since the beginning of this month was the steamer 

 Arkadia, which brought to this market 399 tierces of codfish, 16 drums of codfish, 45 

 tierces of haddock, 4 tierces of pollock. 



The demand has been very strong and prices in all markets of the island have 

 improved. Codfish of good quality $9.50 and haddock $8 per 100 pounds. 



December arrivals with fish: The schooners Morales, Gladys B. Smith, Bravo, and 

 Arctic, from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; schoorer Glad Tidings, from St. Johns, New- 

 foundland ; steamer Winifred, from New York. 



The total receipts for the month were 2,369 tierces of codfish, 230 drums of codfish, 

 218 cases of codfish, 622 half-cases of codfish, 154 tierces of haddock, 276 barrels of 

 herring. With unsold stocks of previous arrivals, the prices declined as follows : 

 Superior codfish, $7.25 to $7.50 per 100 pounds. 



January, ISDD: Arrivals during the month were schooners Fauna and Narka, brig 

 Scepter, and brigantiuo W. E. Stoive, from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. 



These four vessels brought 1,764 tierces of codfish, 305 drums of codfish, 277 cases 

 of codfish, 546 half-cases of codfish, 166 tierces of haddock, 50 drums of haddock, 308 

 barrels of herring, 300 boxes of smoked herring. 



February 1 the stocks on hand were small and the market firm at the following 

 quotations : Codfish, $8.50 per 100 pounds ; hake, $5 to $6 per 100 pounds ; haddock, $7 

 to $7.50 per 100 polinds ; pollock, $5 to $6 per 100 pounds ; herring, smoked, 25 cents 

 per box; sardines, 70 to 90 cents per dozen J-pound cans, in oil or mustard. 



These notes on arrivals, receipts, and state of the market for four 

 months show that a healthy condition and favorable prosjjects for the 

 future have quickly followed a suspended business and state of war 

 with change of government. 



SAN JUAN. 



San Juan, the cai^ital city of the island, is at present of considerable 

 commercial importance. It is on the north side of the island, where 

 there is much rough weather at certain seasons. It has a fine harbor, 

 at the entrance to which is a light-house, 170 feet above the sea. The 

 channel into the harbor is narrow and must be approached cautiously. 

 During severe northerly winds sailing vessels are at times delayed in 

 entering or leaving the port. 



The city is credited with over 30,000 inhabitants. Its imports of 

 fishery products are large, being exceeded by only one port. 



