109 
tended to improve the circumstances of the black people, and 
render them as co and, until recently, as thriving as any 
in the West Indie 
309. Wages at present are 8d. to 10d. per day for men, and 5d, 
to 6d. for women. Most agricultural work on estates is, however, 
done by task. 
SUGAR INDUSTRY. 
310, The area under cultivation in sugar cannot be exactly 
stated, but may be approximately estimated at 6,000 acres, equal 
to 40 Lagi sei of the cultivable area, and 66 per cent. of all lan ds 
under ps. The capital invested in we sugar industry is 
Sia be 60,000/., and in other industries, 40,0007. 
1. There are 26 sugar estates in the pore with a large number 
of small holdings also planted in cane. Five important estates are 
owned by absentee proprietors, and, inin to litigation the 
selon on these is at present suspended. Twelve estates 
mploy steam power, ten wind power, and two water power. 
the estates produce raw or muscovado sugar, while rum is 
distilled on one estate only. 
312. It is stated that the sugar industry is carried on, partly by 
proprietors working their own estates, partly by the metayer 
system, and partly by small holders. Particulars respecting the 
extraction of juice, and the return in marketable sugar per ton of 
canes, are not available. It may be assumed that in these respects 
the sugar industry in Montserrat is in the same condition as in 
St. Vincent, Antigua, and St. Kitts-Nevis, and that there is a con- 
siderable loss = available sugar, amounting possibly to about sa 
to 50 per The industry is admitted to be “in imminen 
a ieor: aa of extinetion, as prices at present are below the cost of 
“ce produce 
313. The value of the collective exports of sugar and molasses 
(there is no ram ye capa with the per-centage during the last 
five years, are as follow 
Years. 1892, 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 
£ £ £ £ 8- 
Value of collective exports, | 22,745 | 20,172 | 17,128 | 5,286 | 14,967 
sugar, and molasses. 
oip Beers foes = 75 63 80 81 61 
Total exports ... as . | 80,469 | °82,204 | 21,371 | 16,220 | 24,213 
314, No attempts. have been made to produce vacuum pan or 
centrifu l su “ Any such oo to nse ve any chance of 
“ success,” it is stated, “must be on a comparatively large scale, 
“and the formation of the island uke it difficult and expensive 
