able statistics we have the following, showing the state of this industry in Porto Rico:

These values are of course in Spanish money, that being the currency of the country when these figures were collected. The pasture lands of Porto Rico are superior to those of the neighboring islands, and 1,203,206 acres are now devoted to that purpose, and doubtless the number of animals is greater than when the enumeration was last taken. During the twenty months in which the American military government administered the custom-houses there were 2,958 head of animals, principally oxen, exported, valued at $1,244,597. The annual exportation of hides amounts to more than 822,108 pounds, valued at $71,852. For the first ten months of this administration the number of animals exported has been 13,256, worth $469,268.

Doubtless the maguey, which is indigenous to the island, could be cultivated with considerable profit. Its products are the pita, or sisal, hemp, which is manufactured into linen, ropes, nets, and hammocks; also, pulque, an intoxicating liquor much used in Mexico. During the Spanish domination it has been observed that the exportation of beeswax amounted to considerable proportions. This would indicate that bee culture could be made a very profitable industry here. With the Italian bees and American hives, added to the accessories of the business in use on the Continent, the flowers of the coffee plant and the refuse of the sugar mills could be laid under contribution, and, combined with the sweetness of the myriads of natural flowers which deck the landscape from the peak of Yunque to Cape San Francisco, tons of the most delicious honey would be produced and yield a golden reward to the industry of the bee and the skill of the bee farmer. It is useless to mention molasses and rum, the incidental products of the sugar cane, though they themselves are sufficient to pay all expenses of the sugar planters and leave the returns from his sugar as clear gain. The so-called minor crops, which embrace corn, rice, beans, potatoes, and the like, are raised solely for home consumption. A large amount of rice, which forms the principal food of the poorer people, is imported every year. It is unnecessary to import a pound of rice, the island being capable of producing more than enough for the use of all its million of people. Very little attention has here

tofore been given to the culture of fruits. Though excellent oranges, bananas, plantains, mangoes, aguacates, guavas, grapes, lemons, zapotes, mamayes, nisperos, cocoanuts, and other tropical fruits, grow wild in the greatest profusion. Proper culture would improve the quality and enlarge the yield, and with cold-storage transportation the markets of New York and all the continental cities could be stocked with them the year round. A 10-acre orange grove, when once in bearing, gives a comfortable income, sufficient to support a family in the best country style of Virginia or Ohio.

According to the latest statistics, there are 39,021 farms in this island of an average size of 45 acres. More than three-fourths of the superficial area is included within the farms and nearly 20 per cent of the entire area of the island under actual tillage. Of all the farms, fully 93 per cent are tilled by their owners, and of these 71 per cent are white and 22 per cent are colored. Seven per cent are renters. The larger farms are generally owned by the white farmers and the smaller ones by the colored. The principal crops of coffee, sugar, and tobacco are cultivated and produced by the white farmer, while the colored farmers devote themselves to the minor crops.

The possibilities of agriculture in Porto Rico can be estimated roughly from the foregoing discussion. There is no reason why this island should not become in the near future a real garden, as carefully and closely cultivated as Holland and as productive as the valley of the Teche. With American capital and American methods, the labor of the natives can be utilized to the lasting benefit of all parties and the general good of the commonwealth.

MINES.

The mining possibilities of Porto Rico are inconsiderable. It is said that considerable gold was sent to Spain from this province in the first half century after the voyages of Columbus, but it would seem that the deposits were soon practically exhausted. However, small quantities of this precious metal are found in the beds of some of the streams flowing from the Sierra de Luquillo. Yet these sterile placers are worked by about 400 families, and they derive a scanty subsistence from the product.

Iron has been found in quantities on the surface, though as yet no thorough exploration has been made, and the mines which have been located are altogether undeveloped.

Copper has also been found in sufficient prospects to justify application for the location of some claims.

Salt mines are possible all along the coasts, and could, if properly worked, produce enough for home consumption, as well as a larger amount for export; but a large quantity of salt is imported annually. On the organization of the civil government, 39 applications for

mining claims were pending; since that time 20 more have been filed. Of these 59 claims, 16 have been granted, 20 have been canceled or withdrawn, and the remaining 23 are still pending. Aside from these, 34 other patents, previously granted, remain in force; but none of them except some salt-works are in operation. Probably salt and iron are the only minerals in the island of much value.

FISHERIES.

There can scarcely be said to be in Porto Rico a class of persons following the calling of fishermen exclusively for a livelihood. There are, according to a recent estimate, about 800 persons occasionally engaged in this industry, but they also now and then occupy themselves as longshoremen and farm laborers. There are however a large number of species of good fish to be found in the rivers and bays and in the adjacent seas, yet there is no great quantity exposed for sale in the market and those bring high prices. Not more than three or four hundred sailing boats and rowboats are used for fishing along the whole coast line. The appliances are of the most primitive description, and poverty is apparent in all the details. If capital were invested in boats, nets, and traps, this business would soon become lucrative. Not only could the local markets be well supplied, but an extensive canning trade is within easy reach of a little money and enterprise.

FACTORIES.

Manufactures in this island, aside from the production of sugar, molasses, and rum, and the making of cigars and cigarettes, with a few hats and baskets, are almost unworthy of mention. There are four factories for the making of matches; soap, shoes, and bay rum are produced in small quantities, and entirely for domestic use; but anything like production on a large scale is utterly unknown. The possibilities are great. Cotton can be grown here economically and in great abundance, and labor is very cheap; so that if capital were invested in cotton factories, in some place convenient to shipping, the enterprise would certainly flourish. Of course, oil mills should be built in connection with the cotton gins and mills, to ultilize all the products of the cotton plant. The same oil mills, when not engaged in making cotton-seed oil, could be used for extracting the oil from cocoanuts, of which the sandy lands along the playas and beaches produce the greatest abundance.

COMMERCE.

Commerce is in an infant state in Porto Rico to what its possibilities are in the future. The exports in the year 1897 amounted to $18,574,678 and the imports to $17,858,063, leaving the balance of trade in favor of Porto Rico to the extent of $716,615.

During the twenty months of American military government the imports amounted to $16,024,505 and the exports to $13,895,860, leav