SOUTH AMERICA: THE GUIANAS. 371 



cents per quire; note, 16 to 48 cents per packet of 5 quires; copying, 

 48 cents per quire of 48 half sheets; pot paper, 16 cents per quire; 

 tissue, 24 cents per quire; blotting, from 32 to 80 cents; bank or 

 commercial, 32 cents per quire; envelopes, from $i to $2.56. The 

 value of paper consumed will average per annum about $30,000 for 

 stationery, $10,000 for manufactured, and $15,000 for wood and 

 straw. 



There are 5 printing and publishing firms in Demerara, 2 in 

 Paramaribo, and i in Cayenne. 



Paper used in Paramaribo comes mostly from Holland; that used 

 in Cayenne comes from France. 



BANKING AND COMMUNICATIONS. 



There are 2 banks in Demerara, viz, the British Guiana Bank 

 and the Colonial Bank, which buy and sell exchange on New York 

 and London and have agents there and in the West India Islands. 

 For mail and transportation facilities, I would refer to my annual 

 report on trade and industries for 1898.* 



IMPORTS. 



Appended is a table of imports of paper and countries of origin 

 for the twelve months ended March 31, 1898: 



Manufactured: 



United Kingdom $13, 348. 78 



United States 805. 70 



Holland 185. 60 



Stationery: 



United Kingdom 29, 152. 46 



U nited States : 733. 06 



France 38. 20 



Wood or straw paper: 



United Kingdom 6, 717.00 



United States 347. 78 



Holland 4,084.42 



British West Indies 775.40 



With reference to the paper trade in this district and how to win 

 it, I hold that there is always a chance for trade in an open market. 

 With the exception of Cayenne, the territory embraced in this con- 

 sular district offers a fair field, not only for the paper trade, but for 

 many other products of the soil and industry of the United States; 

 but the exporter must be prepared to conduct a spirited business 

 campaign. A successful business enterprise can not be conducted at 

 long range. Accomplished business agents should be sent here to 

 study the situation and drum up trade. 



GEO. H. MOULTON, 



DEMERARA, January 12, 1899. Consul. 



*See Commercial Relations, 1898, Vol. I. 



