184 AVES ISLAND. 



June 30, 1856, (see Ex. Doc. above cited, p. 81,) says : 

 "That lie went to tlie isle witli Captain Gibbs in tlie John 

 E. Dow, and arrived there in July, 1854, the same day that 

 Captain Wheeler did in the brigantine M. H. Comery, and 

 that they both landed next day, (sea time;) that he staid 

 there till Christmas, 1854, when the Venezuelans took pos- 

 session by military force ; that he thinks there were 200,000 

 tons of guano on the island, and that was the general esti- 

 mate, and one half was first class, if carefully procured ; 

 that he won't pretend to give a positive valuation, but he 

 thinks that there were at least 75,000 tons on Captain 

 Gibbs' part of the island worth $13 or $14 a ton, consider- 

 ing that he had all the means of gathering it and loading 

 it, prepared for his use, and hands there also ; that he means 

 the value of the isle to the owners, they having there means, 

 wharves, houses, boats, and the like, and he thinks the 

 freight ought not to be. more than $8 per ton to the United 

 States in the winter time, and if any one bought it at the 

 island for the price he states, at the generally going prices 

 in the United States, they would make good freights, and, 

 covering all expenses, he supposes would make heavy profits, 

 provided they know how to get it up foi* market, and how 

 to sell it. The chief part we sent oif was the most inferior 

 sort on the island, which Captain Gibbs got out first to 

 reach the best." 



4. Captain James Wheeler, in his written deposition, 

 made May 7, '1856, transmitted to the U. S. State Depart- 

 ment^ May 9, 1856, (see Ex. Doc, above cited -p. 90,) 



" I think there was 50,000 tons and more of first class 

 guano on Gibbs' s part of the island, staked off by me, and 

 as much also on my part, and this was not half on either 

 lot, but I estimate that the rest was not all good merchant- 

 able guano ; say 50,000 tons and more on each. I consider 

 the 50,000 tons which I call first class guano, on each 

 of the two lots, as worth at the isle, with the privilege of 

 preparations for getting it and loading it there, use of 

 wharves, &c., there, fully $15 per ton, and much more, 

 there, and the residue was not worth so much, but it would 

 bear good freight. There is great skill and experience in 

 gathering and shipping guano, and sending it to market. 

 The practical experience I refer to is, in my opinion, worth 

 a great deal more than the quackery of men who call them- 

 selves chemists about this article. I have always, since 

 June, 1854, regarded the island and guano as worth about 

 two millions of dollars, if properly managed." 



And again^ (p. 91, ibid.,) "1 am informed that little or 

 no profit was made on the guano brought from the island 

 whilst we had it, because we gathered mostly the outside 

 and indifferent guano nearest the wharves, before we could 

 get at the best, and because also the difliculties caused by 



