FREE PORT OF SANTANDER 223 Administration.—~The administration of the free port is conducted dy the consortium mentioned in paragraph 1. Operations permitted in the free zone.—In the free port the following perations are allowed under the supervision of the administration: (2) Changing packing of goods. (b) Division of same so as to prepare commercial classes. (¢) Mixing, for the same purpose as above. (d) Hulling and toasting of coffee and cacao. (e) Tanning of skins. (f) Trituration of woods. (g) Cleaning of wool. (h) Extraction of oil from copra and oily seeds. (7) Every change that increases the value of the goods without altering their nature. The above concessions may be extended at the discretion of the Government. Dispatch secured in unloading vessels.—The only information avail- able on this point is that when the construction of all the unloading facilities of the free port shall have been finished, about 1929 or 1930, the operations will be performed more rapidly than in the customs port due to the better elements available. Transshipment trade.—The principal goods that come through the free port are— Chemical fertilizers from Chili. Corn from Argentina. Cacao from Central America. Coffee from Central America and Brazil, Automobiles from United States. Machinery from United States, England, Gasoline from United States and Russia. Lubricants from United States and Russia. Petroleum from United States and Russia. Gas oil from United States and Russia. Fuel oil from United States and Russia. Manufacturing in free zone.—The principal installation in the free port consists of 42 steel tanks for petroleum derivatives (lubricants, gasoline, Diesel oil, etc.), with a capacity of more than 21,000,000 liters, capable of supplying the national market and furnishing with iquid combustible the ships which enter the port. The handling and exportation of books has also developed. Influence of the free port on the development of the merchant marine.— [t is too soon to determine exactly the influence exercised by the ree port for the volume of the market is somewhat reduced on account of the lack of good unloading facilities up to the present time, but When the wharfs are finished (1929 or 1930) a considerable increase is BXpectad