BERMUDA ISLANDS

AREA, TOPOGRAPHY, AND CLIMATE

Area. Bermuda, situated at latitude 32°14' to 32°23′ N. and longtitude 64°38′ to 64°53′ W. in the Atlantic Ocean, is 668 nautical miles southeast of New York. It is not a part of the British West Indies. The Bermuda Islands are so closely bound together as to constitute in effect a single island about 22 miles in length, by road; total area, slightly under 20 square miles.

Topography. The surface is rolling, but there are no mountains, the highest point being only some 260 feet above sea level. There are no lakes or rivers, and rain water is collected in cisterns to furnish a fresh-water supply for drinking and other

use.

Climate. The climate is subtropical; though cool in winter, frosts are unknown. The average temperature ranges from approximately 50° to 70° F. in winter and 70° to 90° F. in summer, with high humidity, ample sunshine, and considerable wind.

POPULATION AND INDUSTRY

Population and Purchasing Power. The population is estimated at nearly 31,000 persons, three-fifths of whom are colored. The language is English. The standard of living is about that of a semiurban community in the United States. The purchasing power among the tourists (who visit the islands to the number of 80,000 annually) is relatively high, that of the average inhabitant modest, and that of the colored element low. The market, though small, is healthy and well balanced. Practically everything consumed, inclusive of food and clothing, must be imported. The cost of living is high. There is no demand for industrial supplies.

Chief Economic Activities.-Bermuda is almost entirely dependent on the tourist trade. Manufacturing is not important; the only manufacture produced for export is a small amount of natural-flower perfume. Agriculture, now a secondary activity, furnishes practically all the exports, the value of which approximates $160,000 and consists largely of potatoes, onions, kale, Easter-lily bulbs, and tomatoes. Imports annually exceed $10,000,000 in value, some 40 percent of which are from the United States.

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION

Transportation within the island is accomplished by carriage ($0.75 for 1⁄2 mile, $1 for 1 mile, $1.50 for 2 miles), by bicycle,

by ferry, or by train. The distance of 12 miles between Hamilton and St. George's requires about 50 minutes by train (firstclass fare, $0.60 to $1.20).

Steamship Service. The only regular steamship services between the United States and Bermuda, with their minimum round-trip fares, are as follows:

One or two sailings a week between New York and Hamilton by the large steamers of the Furness-Bermuda Line, $60 to $70. Sailings once a week during the spring and summer between New York and St. George's by the fast steamers of the Eastern Steamship Line, $45. Sailings nearly every week between Boston and Hamilton, Bermuda, by the cruise steamers of the Canadian National Lines, $70. Other steamship lines touching at Bermuda en route to Europe and South America are Pacific Steam Navigation Co.; Elders & Fyffes. Numerous large cruise ships also stop periodically.

Air Service. Air travel, New York to Hamilton, is maintained four times a week by the planes of Pan American Airways and Imperial Airways; round-trip fare, $110. (1 (Baltimore is also a port of call for the American planes.) The sea trip requires about 42 hours and the air trip 5.

Communication.-Bermuda is accessible by radiotelephone ($15 for 3 minutes and $5 for each additional minute), cable, and air mail (10 cents per 1⁄2 ounce from the United States and 9d. from Bermuda). Ordinary postage is 5 cents an ounce.

ARRIVAL

No passport or visa is required of American citizens, but a round-trip ticket or an outward-bound ticket to another destination is required.

Samples. Samples without commercial value are admitted free; samples in general are admitted against a deposit, which is refunded upon reexportation of the goods, from either Hamilton or St. George's.

Baggage. Baggage consisting of wearing apparel and personal effects, exclusive of goods intended for sale or not the property of the accompanying passenger, may enter free of duty. Advertising. Advertising matter is admitted free only when in book or booklet form. Single sheets, folders, and posters pay 121⁄2 percent.

Directories and Guidebooks. Of value to the traveler are the booklet "Bermuda," available at the Trade Development Board, without charge, and Picturesque Bermuda-Bushell's Handbook (very complete and revised yearly).

Taxes on Salesmen.-Commercial travelers must obtain a license from the Board of Trade; fee £10. There is no income tax or other direct tax.

Sales Territories.-Bermuda is so small that it constitutes a single sales territory.

HINTS TO TRAVELERS

Visiting Time.-Both the winter and the summer are popular visiting times; the Easter season is the most active. The best climatic conditions should prevail in May and June and in October to December.

Clothing-In winter, light woolen clothing is desirable; in summer, white tropical attire is almost essential.

Hotels. At Hamilton: Princess and Bermudiana (both resort hotels); Hamilton, New Windsor, and American House (all semicommercial). At St. George's: St. George. Out of town: Belmont Manor; Inverurie; Elbow Beach; Coral Island Club; Castle Harbor. In addition, there are many good guest houses. Holidays. These include Good Friday; May 24; July 28; November 11; the King's birthday (December 14); December 25th and 26th; and New Year's Day. Business houses close Thursday afternoons in summer; some close on Thursdays throughout the year.

Legal Time. The official time is 1 hour in advance of Eastern Standard Time (corresponds to "daylight saving" time in New York).

Currency, Exchange, and Banking. The currency unit is the pound sterling; American dollars are freely accepted. Normal dollar-pound exchange rates prevail. Banks: The Bank of N. T. Butterfield & Son, Ltd.; The Bank of Bermuda, Ltd.; a brokerage business is conducted by Thatcher & Co.

CHIEF COMMERCIAL CENTERS

HAMILTON.-Capital and principal city; estimated population, 4,000. The head offices of most large business houses are in Hamilton, which is the chief port for freight as well as passenger traffic. Most business is retail, rather than wholesale, and purchases in the United States are usually made direct rather than through commission agents, except for such commodities as food and feedstuffs. There is a chamber of commerce. American consul in residence.

ST. GEORGE'S.-A small tourist town; has branches of the Hamilton banks and principal shops; also has some shops of its own. Coaling station, and the second port of Bermuda. American consular agency.

CUBA

AREA AND CLIMATE

Area. Cuba, the largest and most important of the West Indian islands, has an area of approximately 44,164 square miles-about equal in size to the State of Pennsylvania. The island is about 780 miles long, has an average width of 50 to 60 miles, and has a coastline of about 2,000 miles. Cuba is only about 90 nautical miles from Key West, Fla., the nearest point in the United States.

Climate.-Cuba's climate is semitropical, tempered by sea breezes. At Habana, temperatures average 71° F. in January and 81° in August. Temperatures at the eastern end of the island are slightly higher. The warmer (rainy) season begins about the middle of May and continues until the end of October; but even during this period the mornings are bright and clear and the nights fairly pleasant. The cooler (dry) season begins in November and continues until May.

POPULATION AND PURCHASING POWER

Population. The population of Cuba, according to official estimates, was 4,215,199 as of June 30, 1938, divided by Provinces as follows:

The population of Habana and its immediate vicinity was shown as 728,197. The number of families in Cuba was 755,979 on September 30, 1931 (the latest official estimate available), the average family consisting of 5 members.

The majority of the people are of the white race, descendants of Spanish colonial settlers and immigrants. Along the seacoasts and in certain Provinces (Oriente, in particular) there are many Negroes and mulattoes. Habana, the capital and by far the most important commercial center, has a cosmopolitan population, including considerable numbers of Spaniards, West Indians, Americans, Chinese, Central Europeans, and other nationalities.

Language. The language is Spanish, although English is widely understood except in the more isolated rural areas. A knowledge of both languages is of great advantage in the business world, but many of the leading Cuban businessmen can and will transact business in English if necessary.

Purchasing Power. No statistics are available as to the distribution of income by families or the purchasing power of the various population groups. Based upon unofficial estimates, not more than 3 percent of the population of Cuba can be classified as wealthy. The upper middle-class comprises approximately 8 percent of the population; the lower middle-class, 25 percent; and the poorer classes, 64 percent.

Business depression and consequent unemployment have severely affected the wage scale for common and skilled labor in recent years. The Minimum Wage Law has forced a slight increase in wages paid to common labor, and since 1935 there has been an upward tendency in general wage scales. The following average daily rates of remuneration (based on 8-hour day) are essentially correct for Habana and larger cities and towns as of 1937.

2.50- 3.00 18.00-22.00

Truckdrivers (per week). The following figures represent the approximate number of persons in various employments: Agricultural, 682,000; general commerce, 123,000; transportation, 58,000; government workers, including armed services, 50,000; professions, 32,000; and mining, 2,000.

The average annual income of the poorer class is estimated at $245, that of the middle class about $450, and of the well-to-do group around $3,000. The average annual income for all groups is about $395.

During 1937, 153,243 residential customers were connected in on the electric supply lines of the island's principal power company, which supplies an estimated 95 percent of the electrical On December 31, 1938, there were 52,847 teleenergy used. phones in service throughout the island, and total registrations of automotive vehicles were 44,199, of which 17,135 were pri