Colonial Exhibition, 1886. 31 
would ensure its conversion into pulp at no greater 
loss than 40 per cent, and such a produft, Mr. CROSS 
estimates to be worth £8 per ton. 
It must be remembered that the foregoing esti- 
mate is based upon a purely laboratory valuation ; and 
though u sida" from the West Indies will compete with jute, 
and " grugru" is capable of competing with hemp, the cost 
of produ6lion and freight, and extent of regular supply are 
not taken into consideration. If those latter conditions are 
favourable with regard to any one fibre, and the analysis 
shews the assistance of a superiority of quality, there 
may be prospe6l of success ; but calculations have to 
be carefully and thoroughly made, before any dependence 
should be placed upon the introduction of any fibre, at 
present comparatively unknown. 
LEATHER, FURS, HIDES and TANNING materials 
were not represented in the British Guiana Court, with the 
exception of some ocelot, baboon, otter, deer and other 
skins, which, from want of proper preparation, were in bad 
condition. 
I regret that this was the case, because in the Local 
Exhibition of 1885, we had such excellent specimens 
from Mr. Frank of Eliza and Mary, and others, of well 
prepared leather from goats. So extensively are 
crocodile and alligator skins used at home, that one 
would think it worth while to kill and export the skins of 
the cavmans which are so numerous in our trenches. So- 
called " Porpoise-skin" is, I believe, the produce of 
the horse, or, at all events, horse-hides are dressed 
and sold as porpoise-leather. Some years ago, I sent 
home the skins of porpoises captured during a short 
cruize " among the Caribbees" and they were converted 
