THE COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE OF SAMOA 



Commercially the Samoan islands are more important as an aid 

 to the merchant marine of the world than as an}^ addition which 

 they can ever make to the world's commerce. With an area but 

 about equal to that of Rhode Island, and much of it compara- 

 tively unproductive, little can be expected as to their producing 

 capacity, and consequently little as to their consuming capacity. 

 Upolu and Tutuila, however, are very fertile, and with their 

 tropical climate could increase their products to a very consider- 

 able sum in value if properly cultivated. The natives, however, 

 are averse to labor, and those who have attempted agricultural 

 pursuits in the islands have been compelled to import laborers 

 from other islands, chiefly from the New Hebrides, New Britain, 

 New Ireland, Ellice, and the Gilbert islands, rates of wages being 

 $1 per day for laborers, or $10 per month with food ; mechanics 

 from $3 to $5 per day ; clerks, $50 per month and board, and 

 book-keepers, $100 per month and board. There are now con- 

 stantly from 1,000 to 1,500 foreign laborers in the islands, and 

 about 300 Europeans and Americans. 



The agricultural productions are chiefly copra (the dried kernel 

 of the cocoanut), sea-island cotton, bread-fruit, sugar, and coffee. 

 The exports of copra in 1896 amounted to $"230,000, the average 

 annual quantity being about 5,000 tons, with a present value of 

 about $40 per ton, against $60 to $75 per ton in former years. 

 The supply of copra has been considerably reduced by the wars 

 between the natives, who devote their attention to raids upon 

 the cocoanut plantations of their enemies, a man with a sharp 

 knife being able in a few moments to destroy a tree which re- 

 quires seven years to reach a producing stage by simply cutting 

 out the crown of the tree. The copra is used for making cocoa- 

 nut oil, and finds a market in the United States and Europe, 

 about one-fifth of the crop coming to the United States, though 

 the general market for cocoanut oil has been materially injured 

 by the increased supply of cotton-seed oil. Experiments have 

 been made in the production of sea-island cotton, cacao, sugar, 

 tobacco, and coffee, and while the result has not been altogether 

 satisfactory, it is probable that with a settled condition polit- 

 ically and industrious habits among the population they might 



