186 AVES ISLAND. 



that tlie Philadelpliia Guano Company were at that time 

 *' engaged in shipping guano from said island, and had a 

 large numher of lahorers on it ; " and likewise the ' ' Notices ' ' 

 referred to therein, and the letter of Mr. Taylor to him. 



9. Accounts of certain sales of guano imported by claim- 

 ants in the winter of 1854-55, and spring of 1855, showing 

 its value at that time in the "United States. 



10. The '^ Wallace contract," dated December 21, 1854, 

 by which Venezuela exacted from Wallace, for all the 

 guano he or his assigns might gather in fifteen years, from 

 all the isles claimed by Venezuela in the Caribbean sea, 

 (and expressly designating, first, this isle,) |5 per ton ; and 

 the contractors to bear all expenses, and pay in advance 

 $200,000 by ninety day bills on Philadelphia ; and to exhibit 

 manifests of all shipments to the officers of the Venezuelan 

 government, who were authorized to supervise them ; and 

 besides, Wallace was, without remuneration, to keep up 

 three armed vessels of the larger size, at his own expense, 

 for said government, which, in case of revolution, should 

 reinforce the Venezuelan navy, and be under the command 

 of its officers whilst the revolution lasted ; and the guano 

 vessels to be liable to harbor dues, except in case of stress 

 of weather or actual injuries; and Venezuela not to' be 

 liable for indemnity or damages if dispossessed of the isle. 

 These conditions were equal to at least |12 50 per ton, and 

 Venezuela cannot gainsay her own valuation of the average 

 of all the Caribbean guano (good, indiiferent, and bad) 

 thus made; though, if less than real value, we are not 

 bound by it. 



11. The ''Pickerell contracts,'' dated September 29, 

 1855, (see Ex. Doc. above, pp. 22 to 26,) granting a monop- 

 oly of the guano to the Philadelphia G-uano Company, as 

 successors of Wallace, for the same price of |5 per ton, the 

 same term of fifteen years, and similar conditions, except 

 with regard to the armed vessels. 



12. Claimants have been informed that a contract has 

 been entered into, within a few weeks past, between said 

 company and Venezuela, renewing the Pickerell contract, 

 but exacting |6 per ton for such guano, besides sundry 

 damages ; which, if made when obtained by claimants, will 

 be ofiered as evidence of the like effect as the other contract 

 above cited. 



13. Official statistical accounts of the imports of guano 

 into the United States from July 1, 1854, to January 1, 

 1857, showing that the average valuation of Caribbean 

 guano exceeds that made by claimants of |12 50 per ton; 

 and^ also of the exports from United States same time to 

 like effect. 



It will be seen that claimants ask, above, compensation 

 for less than one fourth of the guano on the island. They 

 have not estimated for the "good merchantable guano," 



