34^ The Co7nmercial Products of the Sea. 



at different stages, of 3800 francs; that is to say, about 36 

 per cent. 



If the result of the manufacture or collection of salt is 

 unfavourable, the salt makers improve their work during 

 the second year without any further advance than the 

 resulting product obtained for their own benefit. 



It results from these figures that to work 100 hectares 

 of salt-pits, or 250 hectares of land, requires a capital of 

 about 400,000 francs (;^i6,ooo). 



In Western Austraha salt is collected from the Canning 

 in its natural state, and it is evaporated from the water on 

 the salt lakes on Rottnest Island, from Poolenup Lake, and 

 from Lake Muir. The salt from Rottnest, evaporated at 

 226° R, contains 95*9 of pure chloride of sodium. 



The salt trade of the Bahamas and Turks Islands has 

 been almost paralyzed by the high rate of duty levied in 

 the United States. In 1873, salt to the value of ^11,080 

 was shipped from the Bahamas ; in 1876 it had fallen to 

 ^^4,639. In several of the out islands of the group the 

 inhabitants formerly relied upon the proceeds of salt-raking, 

 and the islands upon which salinas are situated are not, as 

 a rule, capable of producing anything else. For the last 

 few years the industry has entailed a loss on all those 

 engaged in it, and there is no hope of their condition being 

 improved until the duty is reduced or entirely abolished. | 



