COMMERCE. La Guayra and the other ports of Venezuela are connected with the United States and Europe by five lines of steamers, giving the Republic almost daily communication with the outside world. In 1900 the coasting trade of Venezuela (in which foreign vessels are not permitted to engage) was carried on by 12 local steamers, with a tonnage of 2367, and IS sailing vessels, with a tonnage of 2S36. The period from 1883 to 1894 was one of inflation in foreign and domestic commerce, caused by the introduction of some $50,000,000 of foreign capital. The cessa tion of this influx of speculative money, coupled with the political disturbances between 1890 and 1900, brought about a reaction from which the country has not yet recovered. There are few British or United States merchants in the coun try. German merchants are numerous, surpass ing the Venezuelans, who in turn are followed in order of importance by French, Italians. and Spaniards. in 1900, 1059 vessels visited the four principal ports; ill 1901, 938 entered Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, and La Guayra, the number visit ing Ciudad 'Bolivar not being known. The prin cipal exports for the year 1901 were as fol lows: Coffee (largely to Germany and the United States), 92,538.946 pounds; cacao (main
ly to France), 9,728,202 pounds; and bides (almost entirely to New York), 3,011,600 pounds. Other important exports were fustic, divi-divi, deer and goat skins, rubber, tobacco, cattle (to Cuba), copaiba, balata gum, and gold. The total exports of gold in 1399 amounted to 42,315 ounces. The exports of Venezuela to the United States in 1901, consisting largely of coffee and hides, and in value exceeding one-half of the whole, amount ed to $6,645348, more than a million less than those of 1898, but surpassing by some $350,000 those of 1902. The following table shows (in bolivars equaling francs) the changes in the com merce of the Republic between 1890 and 1900, exports and imports having greatly decreased slime, owing to the blockade by German and English fleets: The principal imports of Venezuela from the United States are cotton goods, iron goods, ma chinery, petroleum, provisions, chemicals, and !lour; from Great Britain, cotton and linen manu factures, woolens, jute goods, and ironware; from Germany, hardware and beer; from France, wines and oils. The United States supplies about 41 per cent. of the imports.