Express companies have representatives at the wharf to meet steamers; there are also agents of hotels, with whom arrangements may be made for transfer of baggage. The principal express companies are Railway Express Co.; Wells Fargo Co.; Cia. Cubana e Internacional de Expresos y Transportes; and Guillermo Savio.

Samples. A traveler must present to the customhouse at the port of entry an invoice for samples and merchandise carried, certified by a Cuban consular officer in the port from which departure was made. This invoice must list and clearly identify all articles at their market price at the place of exportation. It is important that all possible explanation as to prices be made, as many difficulties arise in Cuban customhouses on account of discrepancies in the matter of valuing imports.

All samples of dutiable merchandise must pay full duty, which is, however, refunded upon reexportation of the samples within 3 months (an extension of 3 months may be obtained).

The following provisions are made by the customs tariff of Cuba for the free admission of certain samples, whether brought by a traveler or sent in the regular way to a customer (this exemption not necessitating reexportation): Samples of felt, wall paper, and fabrics, when the following conditions are complied with: (a) When not over 40 centimeters long in the direction of the warp of the fabric, even though they have the full width of the piece (this shall be determined in the fabrics by the selvage, in felt and wall paper by a narrow edge which shall not have passed through the press); (b) samples not containing these features can be admitted duty-free only when they do not exceed 40 centimeters in any direction; (c) samples shall be entered duty-free when rendered useless by means of cuts spaced 20 centimeters apart when presented for clearance; (d) samples of trimmings in small pieces, without commercial value or possible use, shall be exempt from duty.

The Cuban tariff provides for the duty-free entry of "machinery, apparatus, instruments, and articles in general of a scientific, artistic, or industrial character, brought into the Republic temporarily to demonstrate their utility and the advisability of their acquisition." (Information regarding the conditions for bringing in this type of goods can be obtained from the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Washington, D. C.) Refund of Duties.—In order to obtain the refund of duties within 3 months of entry, it must be possible for the customs officials at port of reexportation to easily recognize the samples upon which duty has been paid; and no refund will be made on samples reexported unless the samples, when brought into Cuba, are specifically invoiced and cleared as such.

Reexportation Through Other Ports. When a traveling salesman leaves Cuba from a port other than that by which he entered, taking with him the samples which he brought in, he

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must present to the customhouse at point of embarkation the receipt for the duties deposited, together with certified copies of other clearance papers from customhouse at port of entry, in order to facilitate the identification of the samples. Refund of duties is made only by customhouse at which entry was made and upon presentation of identification and proof of reexportation certificates extended by customhouse at point of embarkation.

Samples Shipped by Freight.-In cases where samples (on account of their volume or nature) must be carried on the ship's manifest as freight, the same exemption is allowed as regards payment of duty, provided the traveler conforms to the requirements regarding consular invoices, special clearance papers, and deposit of duties covering samples to be eventually reexported, as outlined in the preceding paragraphs. Shipment of such samples by freight to a bona fide salesman can be made on a steamer other than the one on which the traveler takes passage. Time Required for Clearance. The nature of the clerical work involved in the clearance of samples, necessitating the use of special forms and their presentation to various departments in the customhouse, especially at the time of reexportation and refund of duties, makes almost imperative the employment of a customhouse broker. In the case of entry, the time required is not excessive; but in the case of reexportation and refund, the better part of a day is taken up, and if a broker is not employed, the refund will be made only upon the traveler's ability to identify himself in the presence of witnesses, entailing at times much delay. Reexportation and refund of duty should be accomplished at least a day before sailing, in case that takes place on a weekday, and on the Friday preceding the sailing, if that is on Sunday. In most cases the final signatures, inspection, and formalities cannot be accomplished on Saturdays. Cuban customhouses have the following schedules: Weekdays, except Saturdays, Habana Customhouse, 7:30 a. m. to 12:30 p. m. and 3 to 5 p. m.; all others, 8 a. m. to 1 p. m. and 3 to 5 p. m. During the afternoon, customhouses maintain a skeleton force and handle only matters of an urgent nature. On Saturdays, Cuban customhouses are open from 8 a. m. to 12 noon, only. The cashier's office is open only in the morning and always closes one-half hour before the closing time of the customhouse. Failure to present final papers necessary for obtaining refund before the closing hour of the cashier's office will entail the extra delay and expense necessary in giving a power of attorney to a broker in order that he may collect the refund in the name of the traveler in case the latter's departure must be made before the next working session of the customhouse.

Customhouse Broker's Fees.-A licensed customhouse broker usually charges $5 for the work connected with clearance and $5 for that relating to reexportation and refund of duty. There

is no fixed schedule for these charges; therefore they should be arranged beforehand.

Export Tax.-The only disbursement apart from the broker's fees, if a broker is engaged, in connection with the clearance and reexportation of samples is that of the Cuban export tax of one-fourth of 1 percent on the value of the invoice, which is refunded when a certificate showing landing at a United States port of debarkation, duly legalized by the Cuban consulate at such point, is presented at the Cuban port of reexportation in accordance with the procedure pertaining to this operation. Broker's fees and the other costs involved in obtaining this refund of the export tax are generally higher than the actual tax; the tax is only 25 cents per $100, and for this reason most salesmen consider it as a disbursement.

ADVERTISING MATTER.-Advertising matter without commercial value, for free distribution, may be imported into Cuba free of duty.

DIRECTORIES AND GUIDEBOOKS

No recent commercial directories for Cuba are available. A local concern published an extensive commercial directory in 1927, but no subsequent editions have been issued. The Cuban telephone guide carries a classified section for the city of Habana which is often helpful.

The Cuban National Tourist Commission recommends The Blue Guide to Cuba (published by Roger Le Febure, 204 Fourth Street, Vedado, Habana). The Tourist Commission itself publishes numerous less-extensive guidebooks and pamphlets, including a hotel directory. The Times of Cuba and Pan-American Review publish a Spanish and English monthly, Par, which contains considerable information on Cuba.

SALES TERRITORIES

It is practically impossible to lay down definite rules for canvassing Cuba. The methods and routes to be followed depend upon the nature of the merchandise, class of merchants visited, and other factors. If only the larger wholesale houses or distributors are to be visited, only Habana, Santiago de Cuba, and possibly Cienfuegos need be included in the itinerary. In Habana are located the principal jobbing houses which supply the retail houses in the rest of the island. Santiago de Cuba is the second city in importance, where also will be found a number of large distributors.

Except in highly specialized articles which require particular subdivision, most lines are handled through representatives located in Habana. Subagents may be named for Santiago de Cuba and several of the other key cities, but general agencies

in Habana and Santiago can, and often do, cover the entire island satisfactorily.

Commercial Season. The best time for selling goods in Cuba depends entirely on seasonal and other characteristics of each individual line. The most active commercial season is during the latter part of the year, when preparations for the sugar crop begin, and during the actual grinding season, which commences in January and ends in April or May.

Visiting the Interior.-The commercial traveler can visit interior points by railroad, bus, or plane. Sleeping-car accommodations are readily available on railroad trips calling for allnight runs, as are satisfactory hotel accommodations if the trip is made by bus. The plane trip from Habana to Santiago takes only a few hours.

Railway Baggage.—The railroads do not differentiate between baggage carried by traveling salesmen and that of other travelers. The amount of baggage carried free on first-class tickets is 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Excess-baggage charges range downward from $0.0312 per 100 kilograms per kilometer for distances of from 1 to 10 kilometers to $0.0025 per 100 kilograms per kilometer for distances greater than 500 kilometers.

HINTS TO TRAVELERS

Best Visiting Time. From the commercial traveler's viewpoint, the best time to visit Cuba varies in accordance with the type of merchandise handled, especially if the demand is affected by seasonal factors. Otherwise, it would appear preferable to visit Cuba during the more pleasant winter months, which fortunately coincide with the period of greatest commercial activity. Clothing. The traveler visiting Cuba during the winter months (November through April) should include some lightweight spring or fall clothing in his wardrobe. A topcoat is not necessary. During the warmer months the majority of the business men wear suits of linen or other lightweight materials. Hotels.-Habana has several first-class hotels with rates of $11 a day up, American plan, and from $5 a day up, European plan, during the winter season, from December through March. During the off season these rates are subject to substantial reductions. Second-class hotels charge from $7 a day up, American plan, during the winter months and from $3.50 a day up during the off season.

In the smaller towns in the interior, rates range from about $2 up, European plan, and from $3 up, American plan, depending largely upon the importance of the town.

Holidays. The chief national holidays in Cuba are: January 1 and 28, February 24, Good Friday, May 1 and 20, August 12,

September 4, October 10 and 12, December 7 and 25. In u practice, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are half-holid Legal Time. The legal time corresponds to eastern stane time. Cuba has not yet adopted daylight-saving time.

The usual business hours are from 8 or 8:30 a. m. to 5 p. with a 2-hour lunch period from 12 noon to 2 p. m., when offices are closed. A half holiday on Saturday is general. retail stores must, by law, close from 12 noon until 2 p. Banking hours are from 9 a. m. to 3 p. m., and all banks rem open during the lunch hours. Government offices are open fr 8 a. m. to 1 p. m. The office of the American commercial attac is open from 8:30 a. m. to 12 noon and from 1:30 to 5 p. 1 every day except Saturday, when the office closes at 1 p. m.

CURRENCY AND BANKING

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The peso is the monetary unit of Cuba and the circulati media are silver coins, silver certificates (backed by a reserve coined silver pesos), and American currency, which is leg tender in Cuba. The coins circulated are the silver peso (16 centavos); silver coins of 40, 20, and 10 centavos; and nick coins of 1, 2, and 5 centavos. Cuban paper money (first issue in 1934), redeemable in silver, is in denominations of 1, 5, 20, and 50 pesos. Cuban silver and paper money, althoug nominally at par with United States currency, has lately bee quoted at a discount.

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The Chase National Bank, the First National Bank of Boston and the National City Bank of New York all have offices in Habana, with branches throughout the island. In addition, there are several well-known Canadian banks and several Cuban banks with offices in Habana and branches in other cities.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

The metric system is in general use, although certain Spanish weights and measures are also used. Of these latter the most common, with their English equivalents, are as follows: Vara, 33.4 inches; libra (Spanish pound), 1.0143 English pounds; arroba, 25 Spanish pounds or 25.3575 English pounds; quintal, 100 Spanish pounds or 101.43 English pounds; and the caballeria, equal roughly to 33% acres.

CHIEF COMMERCIAL CENTERS

Habana. Capital of the Republic and largest commercial center in Cuba (including suburbs), 728,197. Approximately 75 to 80 percent of Cuba's imports and about 25 percent of its exports clear through the port of Habana, which has an excellent harbor. Many large transatlantic liners call at this port during