THE RIVER FLEET 255 



graphic service would, however, still have two func- 

 tions : in the first place, the topographical study of 

 the river and the constant placing of buoys, and, in 

 the second place, the observation of its behaviour 

 and anticipation of variations of level. The utility 

 of the work of foreseeing floods, which has been carried 

 on since 1907, has been abundantly proved. It 

 published a daily bulletin of forecasts, based upon 

 observation of the pluviometric scales of the upper 

 river, which is equally valuable to the navigators and 

 to breeders in the floodable area. It enables the 

 breeders to get their cattle into safety before the 

 floods come. On the other hand, the ship can, 

 thanks to the bulletin, foretell what depth of water 

 it will find at critical passages, and calculate exactly 

 the load it can carry, and so complete its cargo lower 

 down. The service of forecast of floods has morally 

 improved navigation on the Parana by suppressing 

 every possible pretext for wilful stranding, which had 

 become a current form of speculation. 



Nothing is more varied than the fleet which now 

 serves the Parana. It includes tramps, and long, slim 

 European ships, which load up with cereals and meat ; 

 large river boats, luxurious and light ; barges and 

 tugs, lighters and schooners, which have compensation 

 for their slowness in their cheapness. 



As regards navigation, the river is now divided 

 into three sections. Maritime navigation ascends as 

 far as Santa Fe. At Rosario and Santa Fe it goes 

 right to the heart of the zone of cereals and to the 

 fringe of the forest area. The upper section, between 

 Rosario and Santa Fe, is less safe than the lower 

 section, and this is reflected in the cost of freightage 

 from Santa Fe. 



The ports of the lower Parana, between Santa Fe 

 and Buenos Aires, may be classed in three categories. 

 The ports of the first group are built on low land 



