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ships logs for others not represented at a fixed charge per log. Export 

 entries showing numbers of logs, size and value are presented to the 

 Customs Department before shipment. Koko, which used to be quite 

 free from the Teredo borer, is now unsafe for logs after a fortnight's 

 floating in the water there. 



The shipping companies do not particularly desire logs as freight, 

 owing to their weight and unwieldiness in handling. Space is left 

 between them to some extent in the hold. The hatches have to be 

 especially long to take the biggest logs. From Lagos, Forcados, 

 Calabar, etc., a freight rate varying from 35s., 40s., to 45s. ^ per ton for 

 2f, 3 and over 5-ton logs. Koko, on the other hand, is only 25s., with 

 10s. extra for primage. This is the same with the other freight rates. 



During the voyage the logs gradually dry, and often by the time 

 they are put into the timber yard of the brokers they are split or 

 cracked. Only the best logs, 30 feet long and quite sound at the start, 

 stand all the rough handling they get. Auction sales take place about 

 once a fortnight in the busy season, though sales by private treaty 

 take place occasionally. Logs can sometimes be sold ex quay too, 

 though by far the most of the wood is sold by public auction. The 

 inclusive charge of landing, stacking and selling at the dock is roughly 

 10 per cent, of the value of the log. In fact, it is quite a considerable 

 item of expense, and often makes the difference between profit and 

 loss on the smaller and lower-grade logs. All logs are sold by the 

 superficial foot, i.e. one foot square, one inch thick " sale measure." 

 Sale measure obtains only in the mahogany trade for square logs, and 

 is roughly 20 per cent, less than the actual cubical contents of the 

 log. Round logs are measured and sold by extreme (full) measure. 

 A wane of six inches or less is left on the squared logs, because it makes 

 them less liable to crack and split at the corners, and also it saves a 

 good deal of timber which would otherwise be wasted. 



Liverpool is the best mahogany market, though fair prices are 

 obtainable for good logs in London. Hamburg used to be the market 

 for Gaboon wood, and on the whole new woods were better received 

 than in the English market. As a rule, figured mahogany always 

 commands a good price, whereas plain wood, with the exception of 

 roey or counter-top timber, only fetches a moderate or low price, unless 

 the market is understocked at the time. The best wood is obtained 

 from the Ivory Coast, and the next best is Benin or Lagos wood. Sapeli 

 wood is very heavy, and found a market chiefly in Germany. Cross 

 River wood has yet to be shipped and proved, though samples there 

 looked very good and even showed some figure. So far, only the leased 

 areas have been spoken of. Now we return to the Reserves, where, 

 however, permits to cut trees can only be obtained. Here leases are 

 usually not granted. The rules with regard to replanting do not apply 

 * Pre-war rates. 



