192 
of the fibre has steadily risen. During the present year it hag reached 33/, per ton. 
It should be borne in mind by all interested in the industry tha t the market for ga 
fibre is liable to considerable fluctuation. Hence the cost of production must be 
instances and the exercise of great economy Sisal fibre could be produced in the 
ahamas at a poi of about 6l. per ton. If this were accomplished there would 
always be a profit on the lowest prices yet reac 
LVUL—SISAL CULTIVATION IN THE TURKS AND 
CAICOS ISLANDS. 
ER B., 1896, p 119.] 
The steps taken to establish a fibre industry in these islands were 
described in the Kew Bulletin, 1890, pp. 273-278. The plants under 
cultivation were determined at Kew to be identical with those grown in 
th mas (Agave ainis A further account of the industry 
was given in the Kew Bulletin, 1892, pp. 31 and 32. In the following 
extract from a letter addressed to the Commissioner, Turks Islands, the 
Commissioner reports that the plants are in excellent health, 
and the only difficulty is the want of sufficient machines to clean the 
leaves as they arrive at maturity. Since this report was written it is 
stated that machines have been introduced, and the export of fibre is 
st to be greatly increased :— 
RACT from a letter from the Assistant Commissioner, Cockburn 
Harbour, to Genii oier, Turks Islands, dated 31st December, 1 =s 
“ Of the Sisal indu ustry I cannot say much. At West Caicos ‘it would 
seem, if output be the criterion, much is not tees done: what i 
would appear to be directed to weeding, clearing and systematic culti- 
vation, rather than to shipment of the clean baled products, A limited 
number a the Blue Hills or Providence Cays people here get 
employme 
« Ty aay ecent visit to the scene of the wreck of the —— : 
po 
‘ Dorian’ I travelled day after day for a week through these 
stretches under cultivation by the East Caicos Fibre pa , 
succession of regular well-ordered tracts of some 1,200 acres in all. The 
growth and stages of maturity clearly aan mark the different yearly 
plantings with ample roads and plant spac 
“The crop is far the finest I have ete seen in the Bahamas. 
hat :— 
“The haee of rng or Bahama hemp from the Turks and Caicos 
Islands is gradually the increase, the value declared for 1895 being 
6207. With the additional and improved machinery recently put up by 
each of the two companies engaged in this business, the output will 
probably be much larger.” 
