Venezuela is on a gold basis, the bolivar, equalling almost 20 cents in our currency, being the unit of value. The peso, according to which bills of the country are reckoned, consists of four bolivars, and is a fictitious coin not existing in reality. The “peso fuerte,” or five-bolivar piece, is a regular silver coin.
The bulk of the business of Venezuela is handled by the Germans, although the United States takes most of its exports, with France second, Germany third and England fourth. German merchants are all over the country, the Italians also are much in evidence.
In 1912, the latest data available, Venezuela exported goods to the value of $25,260,908 and imported articles worth $20,568,940.
She purchases agricultural implements, arms, ammunition, bags for coffee and cocoa, beer, butter, canned goods, confectionery, chemicals, drugs, medicines, flour, glassware, iron-ware, lard, leather, oils, paints, paper, perfumery, railroad material (chiefly from Europe), wall-paper, wines, textiles, cotton and woolen goods, shoes, hats, and exports coffee, cocoa, hides, skins, horns, feathers, dye woods, tonka beans, gold, pearls, guano, phosphate rock, fish-sounds and ballata.
There are no fees or taxes assessed on the commercial traveler, and samples are as a rule admitted duty free.
The following cities should be visited:
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Caracas | 100,000 |
| Valencia | 65,000 |
| Barquisimeto | 60,000 |
| Maracaibo | 50,000 |
| Puerto Cabello | 40,000 |
| Ciudad Bolivar | 40,000 |
| La Guaira | 20,000 |
| Cumana | 10,000 |
| Carupano | 10,000 |
| Barcelona | 10,000 |
A visit to the Island of Margarita is not necessary because its traders come to the ports of Venezuela for supplies.
Owing to the fact that in Venezuela the consignee can obtain his goods without presenting an invoice or bill of lading, it is well, unless the merchant to whom the goods are shipped is known to be reliable, to send them through some bank or banker, with draft attached.
Venezuela is reached by the Red D Line, flying the American flag, direct from New York to La Guaira, which maintains weekly freight and passenger sailings. The Royal Dutch West Indies Line, under the Dutch flag, sail bi-monthly from New York, having freight and passenger service, but their route involves many stops and takes about twice the time of the direct Red D Line.