THE WEST INDIAN FRUIT INDUSTRY. G27 



these figures, whilst indicating the great strides made by fruit in relation 

 to sugar, also bear melancholy witness to the period of depression through 

 which the staple industry of the West Indies has passed. Apart from this 



Fig. 183.— Cocoanut. 



question of relative importance, the fruit exported has actually grown 

 from one-quarter of a million in value in 1883 to well over one and a 

 quarter million sterling in 1902. 



Principal Fruit- producing Colonies. 



Jamaica is at present by far the principal fruit-producing colony in the 

 West Indies. In 1902-3 fruit to the value of nearly 1,250,000Z. was ex- 

 ported from Jamaica, whilst the export of all the other colonies together 

 amounted in value to only about 14,000Z. The detailed figures are as 

 follows : — 



Jamaica £1,249,544 



Barbados . 

 Leeward Islands 

 St. Vincent 

 St. Lucia 



6,119* 

 5,061 

 1,586 

 384 



* Fruit is grouped with vegetables in the Barbados returns, and Yams, Sweet 

 Potatos, (tc. probably form the greater portion in value of the total here given. 



