WEST INDIES AND BERMUDA 245 



nearly all of it rotted on the voyage. The consequence 

 of this was that from October 1905 to March 1906 the 

 10,000 bunches shipped only realized an average of 2d. per 

 bunch, while the cost of crates, packing, &c., amounted to 

 Is. 2d. per bunch, so that the planters, besides losing their 

 bananas, lost Is. on each bunch, the result being that they 

 discontinued shipments and destroyed their plants. A 

 meeting of the Barbados Agricultural Society was, however, 

 held on January 5, 1913, under the chairmanship of Sir 

 F. J. Clarke, President, to consider certain proposals 

 received from the British West Indian Fruit Company, a 

 concern closely allied with the Royal Mail Steam Packet 

 Company, with a view to the resuscitation of the banana 

 industry in the island. Mr. Bovell, the Superintendent 

 of the Local Agricultural Department, who addressed the 

 meeting, said that there was now ample cold storage 

 accommodation in the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's 

 steamers, with the prospect in the near future of new and 

 better steamers on the route. He further pointed out that 

 the demand for the fruit was on the increase, and that, 

 therefore, it would appear that the moment was opportune 

 for reviving the business in Barbados. He added that the 

 Fruit Company would be prepared to assist the planter in 

 every possible way, and would favourably consider the 

 question of advances to planters against bills of lading. 

 As the outcome of negotiations, the British West Indian 

 Fruit Company has informed the Local Agricultural 

 Department that they hold the Royal Mail Steam Packet 

 Company's undertaking to reserve space for 1000 crates in 

 cold storage each mail for one year ending September 30, 

 1913, and space for 2000 crates for one year ending 

 September 30, 1914, such reservation of space being 

 subject to a guarantee from the shippers that the named 

 quantities would be shipped or the freight paid. They 

 further offered to advance to shippers Is. 9d. for eight and 

 nine hand bunches respectively, and to pay to the grower 

 the balance on the sales, after deducting freight and 

 handling charges and commission. The suggestion \vas 



