EUROPEAN POSSESSIONS 201 
formerly belonged to that country. They are 
all merchants or traders, owning coasting 
vessels that ply along the Latin American 
shores and the other islands. Their credit is 
good and they are thoroughly up-to-date in 
their business methods. 
While Dutch money is used, American, 
English, French, German and other currency 
is received at the current rate of exchange. 
There are no government banks, but each mer 
chant has credits in the United States or Eu 
rope and buys and sells exchange against it. 
The total exports of these islands are less than 
$1,000,000 yearly, $300,000 representing coal 
brought from the United States and resold to 
steamers. Many straw hats made from fibre 
imported from Venezuela and Colombia are 
exported, the yearly production being about 
$350,000. Aloes to the extent of $70,000 and 
dividivi, a dye wood, to the value of $25,000, 
with hides, skins, and a native lace are the 
chief exports. Aruba ships some phosphate 
rock and has one small gold mine in operation. 
Much smuggling is done into Latin America.