New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-04
THE GUaNO TRADE.

This Article has become one Of general use by farmers
and gardeners. Since its character as most valu-
abe fertilizer has become firmly established, various
attempts have been made % manufacture compounds
of similar propertie-; and we think that the impress
sioD widely prevail that these artificial products have
also proved themselves 20 be capable of regenerat'ng
WORKOUT land, at least improving it. This has
been the only TO q limited extent. Many farmers
who Rave tried these Fertilizers" have abandoned
them, and now use Guano in addition TO ordinary
nme. We learn from the best authority that the an
nual consumption Of Peruvian Gasno alone is three
tines as greet as the aggregate consumption Of all
kinds OF manufactured fertilizers, some OF which
are undoubtedly valuable. but none can supersede
Gusno.
The word "gueno' is corruption OF the Spanish
"buano,' itself corruption of the Peruvian word
"husnu;" sgnifyDg eacIement Ii was used as
menure in the tine of the ucas, and the Spanisrds
learned lie use from The Peruviaus TIE chief source
from which Il article in commerce is taken, Is
the Cbincha Islands of Peru. There, immense de-
posts have been formed through many centuries
b. counties hocks OF seabrds, which still frequent
the ISLANDS but not in such Numbers formery-the
g,eat copcouse OF ships having driven most of
item away. These deposits are regularly s'rauhed,
and are of dark reddish Tor, but lighter on the
surface Under tie sEn-baked crust OF the surface the
birds scra'ch deep obique holes in which the, lay
their egg so that the upper layer thus has com-
peiey honey -combed appearance. Guano also con-
tains deconposed egs-shels, and tie bones and re-
mains OF fish, brought by the old birds to their young
Tie Chpcha article is considered the best on account
of its extreme dyness, therah never falls upon those
islands But there are many other localities whence
guapo is or may be obtained Such are the islands
directly south of the Chinchss, Batista aud San Gal
lem the Lobos islands; various points along the coasts
of Son Ameri n ard N, xico; the Triangle Island,
near Yucahn; Bird Island, west of Gaudaoupei diff
ferent parts of Africa. etc.
Ths Chncbss sre group of three islands in the
Bay of pisco the coast OF Peru much alike LII their
general 70 NATION and appearance y ing nearly north
and SOUTH and separated by channels about one mile
IN breadth. They naturally bare rocks, without a
ST. of vegetation Of any sort. The Northern island
il somewhat the largest of the III ee, which average
tuo miles in circumference. Each presents the APP
pesIauce of fate. ed cone, tho rocky inequalities Of
the il al surface having ben ill-d up end vefed
with the guano The cuttings Of which vary in depth
from few inches 10 hundred feet. Their upper
surfaces are from 100 to $50 feet above the water
Around their little promout res ut out in which
the washing of tie sea bos formed many csveros-the
REQ of s.a-ions; and whales are frequently seen
gamboIiDg about the islands. The eastern side OF
each i a perpendicular wall o; rock, from the edge OF
which the uano slopes toward the center OF the island
which il a rocky eevation and from this point there
is celte slope TO the western shore, the guano con
ti ujng 10 within few feet of the zter. The steep
NJ 81 of the cliffs that form the shore and the great
depth of water seven fahoms close I'M afford great
facilities for loading vesses.
The mode of oaoing is usually as follows; ship
frs, takes ID by her boats enough guano to ballast
her. and approaches to point of the coast where the
remainder of the cargo is shot down the cliff iuto the
hold of the vessel. Some vessels chiefly the smaller
ones load entirely from boats. On the top OF the cliff
are ceep bins containing from 100 to 800 tuns OF
gusno made of long poles firmly bound together and
interviewer with ropes and chains. These are wide
and oIen at the top but diminishing in size toward
their lower end which is the extreme edge of the
prscipice To this ia ftted canvass shute or pipe
two feet in diameter which extends down 100 feet TO
the deck OF the ship. Through this shute the guano
masses in a continuous stream OF tTeu endous force
al the rate Cf from 100 to 400 uns per day. The bin
is filed by Chinese coolies and the Peruvian convicts
wear since xlere were about 800 of the former but
their nun Der was then rapidly diminishing by i'll
treatment Each is compelled to bring TO the
shue five tuns daily and if he fails To do 80 he is pun
ished by negro drivers with the whip. The barbariy
used toward these coolies, who were enslaved by
treachery, is almost unparalleled. There are about
leo OF the convicts.
II is orly about twelve years since these deposits
became Of commercial impo lance; and in this period
they have proved of great wealth TO the Gov
e1 ment of Peru which is low the most prosperous of
all the South American Republics. The amount OF
its revenue from this source for 1854 and 1855, as
stated in the lest Treasury Budget is estimated at
S. 600 600. II sells the privilege of loading vesses
for about sl9 tun. There are frequently over Zoe
vessels engaged in loading at the same time, and as
each vessel receives but one measure" at ts
"furD," the period occupied in loading Is several
weeks The following is the official report Of the total
amount of deposits these islands. In the Fall OF
1853 the Peruvian Government employed corps oil
engineers, headed by Mr. Chas. Psraguet TO measure
their areas and their reports printed In London,
with lihographic illustrations. OF this return wa
have this summary:
On the Northern Island .4 sg ~ tuns Of measurement
On the Middle 9tS uns Of measurement
On the Southern Island 6 $50 90 tuns OF measurement
Total .............I2 SIC 100 tuns Of nsasursnoDt
This is 10 be increased one-third a. the difference
made by breaking il up and forming tuns Of weight
a. shipped or in all TO- SOL 400 tuns. This Is probably
correct estimate, and shows that previous estimates
were too large.
The total quantity exported is not definitely known
The greatest quantity has been taken FRI the northern
island the middle island has been moderately worked;
and the southern island, which is the most difficult Of
access has scarcely been touched. The following is
semi-ocia statement of the exports in three years:
1850. 1851: 1852,