La Vela borders on a low swampy region and is connected by railroad with Coro. Except for a small coastwise trade with Puerto Cabello, the port enjoys little commercial activity. Coal mines are near by and with their future exploitation an increase in commerce may be expected. The waters of the harbor are unusually rough and lighters must be used for discharging cargo.
Rancho Grande
The Road through the Mountains
Port of Ocumare de la Costa on the Caribbean
While there are many other ports besides those mentioned above, their commerce is so light and in such a poor state of development that more consideration need not be given them here. For the most part, their commerce is entirely coastwise and is carried on principally in small sailing vessels. The fundamental obstacle to their future progress and indeed to the progress of the entire nation seems to be lack of population—a difficulty which the government is striving hard to overcome by furnishing immigrants with free transportation, and paying passport expenses.
SPECIAL PORT ACTIVITIES
At present there are no free ports in Venezuela and despite many rumors and much discussion the establishment of a free port, at least for some time, seems improbable. However, the Minister of Finance has recommended the installation of bonded warehouses at some port centrally located on the coast mainly for the better accommodation of coastwise trade. Cargoes could be placed for a long period of time in the proposed warehouses and the charges collected with the movement of goods. The advantage of such a plan would be principally the ability of profiting from market conditions and the fluctuation of prices. The execution of this plan depends solely upon the legislation of the government and will be officially considered in the near future.