Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-10
ISLAND DESIRED
BY GERMANY WELL
SUITED FOR BASE

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 9.-The
Venezueland island of Margarita, which
according to rumor, Germany has tried
to secure as submarine base, is de-
scribed in the following war geogra-
ply bulletin issued by the National
Geographic society from it's Washing
ton headquarters:
"The island of Margarita, which
lies off the north coast of South Amer
lea, being separated from the Venezue-
Ian peninsula Of Araya by a channel
twelve miles wide, is more than two
thirds as large as the Isle of Pines,
having an area Of 440 square miles, its
length being As miles and the width
varying from few feet to 20 miles.
AS matter of fact, Margarita is prac-
tically two islands. The western half,
eliminating in the peak of Macanao,
nearly 1850 feet above sea level is
connected with the eastern half, whose
mountain summit is Copei, with an adj
titude of 400 feet, by bare ribbon
of sand which in some places is less
than 200 feet wide.
while the coastal regions are arid,
the interior of Margarita is extremely
fertile, and there are numerous little
valleys where the pasturage is ex-
ceptionally fine. Maize, sugar, coffee.
cotton and live stock are the principal
products of the island, while fishing
and the making of salt are the chief
Industries of the 10000 inhabitants.
The women also are engaged in the
plating of coarse straw hats, which
are sold all over Venezuela.
"Margarita has had an interesting
history. 1t was discovered by Column
bus in 1893 and the following year a
Spaniard by the name of Guerra dis
covered pearl oysters on neighboring
island off the south coast. Many adj
yenturers flocked to these waters dur
ing the next few years and Margarita
derives it's name from the pearl fisher
les of Spain (margarita being the Span
ish for PEARL. Less than five miles
Of the southern coast is the islet of
Cubagua, where the first Spanish set
Element of South America, New CadlZ,
was established in 1915, fifty years
before the founding of st. Augustine,
the first permanent settlement on the
North American continent. New Cadiz
was abandoned when the pearl fisher
les ceaesd to be profitable.
"Margarita fell prey to the no.
torious freebooter Lope de Aguirre in
1851 and many years later was again
rayaged both by the English and the
Iutch. In Venezuela's war OF indie
incidence the islanders sided with the
revolutionists and as a result were
cruelty punished by the Spaniards.
When the country's freedom was flnal-
" won the island was rewarded for its
aid nv being made part of the dis
trict known as Nueva Esparta (New
Sparta.)
"The fisheries of the island are ex-
tremely profitable, the catches peing
made on a wholesale scale with nets
manned by from $50 to 200 natives
each. twenty-five tons of fish have
not infreuuently been the catch in
single baud. During the season OF
nine months a single net orten yields
995 tons of fish. From the sharks ana
other non-edible fish the natives make
an oil for lighting their houses, ana
varnish for their boats.
"The birthrate on the island is quite
high. and the death rate is low, owing
n the salubrious climate, the result
being an increase in population which
outruns the resuces of the land, neces~
stating a considerable percentage Oh
emigration each year.
"Ascunsion is the capital OF the is
land. with a population variously estl-
mated at from 1000 to 5000. The
chief port is Pampatar, on the east
coast. $50 miles due west of Port OF
Spain, Trinidad"