258 TRINIDAD. 



Salt Provisions. We import from the British Colonies of 

 North America and the United States, besides cod or salt fish 

 (local term), mackarel, herrings, and salmon, to the amount of 

 about one million two hundred thousand pounds value 14,700 

 sterling. Salt fish may be said to be the staple of the animal diet 

 of the population ; the richest as well as the poorest inhabitant 

 of Trinidad must have his salt fish at breakfast, and many use 

 it at dinner also. So constant and extensive is its use in the 

 rural districts, that it has long borne the flattering designation of 

 " Planter's Ham." 



Salt beef, pork, and hams are imported from the British Isles 

 and the United States ; corned fish, salted hog, and tasajo or 

 jerked beef, from Venezuela ; from England, Martinique, and 

 St. Thomas, we get our supplies of butter, oil, and preserves ; 

 the total amount of annual importation being 15,200 sterling. 



Live Stock and fresh meat. Except poultry, the island rears 

 almost no animal food nearly every ox slaughtered in the colony 

 being imported from Venezuela. The beef is not of the best 

 quality, as the animals, on arrival, are generally wild and lean ; 

 but it is very cheap, selling at from 2J to 10 cents the average 

 being about 7 cents the pound. About 6,200 head of cattle 

 are imported annually weighing on an average 400 pounds 

 each, and for which the medium cost is 8 dollars per head, or 

 the yearly sum of 10,500 sterling. The cattle, however, from 

 the mainland, may be considered as an exchange for goods, most 

 of them being imported as remittances. Veal is very scarce, and 

 sells at from 10 to 15 cents per pound. Goats and swine are 

 imported chiefly from Margarita, sheep from Cariacou (one of 

 the Grenadines), and some of the old islands. Mutton is scarce, 

 and of average quality. Except in a few privileged localities, 

 such as Icacos, Mayaro, and the Cocal, sheep do not thrive in 

 Trinidad ; swine succeed very well indeed, and can be easily 

 fattened ; but the people seem to find the rearing too trouble- 

 some. Kid, pork, and mutton sell at 10, 15, and 30 cents per 

 pound, respectively. 



Poultry. Although poultry is bred abundantly, particularly 

 on cacao, coffee, and provision estates, yet a large quantity is 

 imported from Margarita, and even from Grenada. Chickens 

 are subject to yaws (local term), and a very severe catarrh, or 

 y both of which destroy a great number at certain seasons ; 



