CHAPTER I

GENERAL REMARKS-SIGNALS-WINDS AND WEATHER-CURRENTS—

ROUTES

Plan. This first chapter is devoted to generalities concerning the various political subdivisions and to navigational data, such as meteorology, currents, and routes, for the whole area. Succeeding chapters describe the off-lying islands from Guadeloupe to Cocos and then the coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

MEXICO. Mexico is a Federal Republic, consisting of 28 States, 2 Territories, and the Federal District of Mexico. The Pacific coast divisions are the two Territories of Lower California (northern district and southern district) and the States of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. The Government is divided into three branches-executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive is vested in the President, who is elected for 6 years, assisted by a cabinet. The legislative power is vested in the general Congress, which is composed of two bodies, the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The judicial power is vested in the supreme court of justice and in the district and circuit courts.

The population of the country in 1930 was 16,553,398. About 30 percent of these are Indians, 15 percent are white, and 55 percent are of mixed race.

Ports.-There are few good harbors of any considerable depth or capacity on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The high land of the interior approaches almost everywhere to within a few miles of the coast and the superficial drainage is scattered among numerous short and rapid watercourses. As a consequence, none of the rivers are of utility in the navigation of ocean-going vessels, though a number of them are useful as means of local communication. A number of lagoons lie within the narrow strip of low coastal land and in places serve as an inland route for small craft for many miles. The principal ports, in order, from north to south, are Ensenada, Santa Rosalia, Guaymas, Yavaros, Topolobampo, Mazatlan, San Blas, Manzanillo, and Acapulco. National port regulations are in force and should be consulted.

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Communications.-The Pacific ports of Mexico have steamer communication with the Pacific coast ports of the United States and, via the Panama Canal, with the Atlantic coast ports. There is a coastal service with Central American ports and direct service to Chile and Japan.

Railroads serve the ports of Guaymas, Topolobampo, Mazatlan, and Manzanillo, and there are lines which reach the coast at Altata and Salina Cruz. The country has a total of 19,288 miles of railroad, mostly operated by the Government.

In 1932 there were some 40,000 miles of telegraph and telephone lines of Federal, State, and private ownership. On the Pacific coast, submarine cables extend from Salina Cruz to ports of Central America. There are a number of radio stations, several of which are owned by the Federal Government. For the navigational services rendered by these stations, see H. O. No. 205, Radio Aids to Navigation.

Currency. The Mexican peso is worth about 27.85 cents, United States currency. The money in circulation consists of peso notes of the Bank of Mexico, supplemented by fractional coins of silver (50 centavos) and copper (1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 centavos).

Weights and measures.-The metric system is established by law, but old Spanish measures are still in use, as follows:

Holidays.—The principal holidays observed in the Republic of Mexico are as follows: January 1, New Year's Day; February 5, anniversary of the constitution; May 5, Victory of Puebla; September 16, anniversary of independence; December 25, Christmas Day. The offices of the Government and the U. S. Consulates at the various ports may be closed on these days and on other national and local holidays.

Standard time.-All of Mexico except the Northern District of Lower California uses the time of the meridian of 90° W., or 6 hours slow of Greenwich time. The Northern District of Lower California uses the time of the meridian of 120° W., or 8 hours slow of Greenwich.

GUATEMALA.-The Republic of Guatemala has a seacoast on the Pacific of about 140 miles between Mexico and El Salvador. This coastal section is hot and humid, and has a heavy rainfall. The rivers are all small. The principal ports are San Jose and Champerico, both open roadsteads.

The country inland rises to an elevated mountain chain containing several volcanic summits. The Pacific slope of this range, between altitudes of 1,000 and 5,000 feet, is exceptionally fertile and is the most thickly settled section of the country. The population of the country is nearly 2,500,000. About 60 percent of this number are Indian and most of the remainder are a mixture of Spanish and Indian.

Communications.-Five steamer lines with regular monthly service and four lines with occasional service place the Pacific ports of Guatemala in direct communication with ports of the United States, South America, Europe, and Asia. There is a total of 737 miles of railroad; both the Pacific coast ports have direct connection with the capital and with Puerto Barrios on the east coast. Telegraph and telephone lines have a total length of about 8,000 miles. There are submarine cables from San Jose to La Libertad and to Salina Cruz.

Currency, weights, and measures.-The unit of currency is the gold quetzal, which has an exchange value of about one dollar, United States currency. The money in circulation consists principally of quetzal notes of various denominations and coins of silver (25, 10, and 5 centavos) and copper-nickel (12, 1, and 2 centavos). The metric system of weights and measures is official, but some of the old Spanish units are still in use.

Holidays.-National holidays are as follows: January 1, New Year's Day; April 14, Dia de las Americas; May 1, Labor Day; June 30, Reform Day; July 4, Independence of the United States; July 14, Bastile Day; August 3, Day of the Flag of the Race (Columbus' day of Sailing); September 15, National Independence; October 12, Discovery of America; December 25, Christmas Day. The customhouses and other public offices are closed on these days, and also on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Easter week.

Standard time of Guatemala is the time of the meridian of 90° W., or 6 hours slow of Greenwich time.

EL SALVADOR is the smallest of the Central American republics and the only one without a coastline on the Atlantic side. Its Pacific coast is in general a belt of low, rich, alluvial land, which has

a length of about 140 miles between Guatemala on the west and Honduras on the east. The principal port is La Union, an excellent harbor. Acajutla and La Libertad are open roadsteads.

Two mountain chains cross almost the entire country and send out numerous spurs, some of which extend very close to the coast. Earthquakes are not infrequent. The valleys are very fertile and the country supports a population of about 1,500,000, consisting mostly of aboriginal and mixed races.

Currency, weights, and measures.-The monetary unit is the colon, which has a value of 50 cents, United States currency. There are silver coins of 1212, 20, 50, and 100 centavos, and nickel coins of 1, 3, 5, and 10 centavos. The metric system of weights and measures is legal, but some Spanish units are still in common use. Communications.-Several lines of steamers maintain a regular service from La Union to other Pacific ports of North America, and to New York and Europe. There is about 378 miles of railroad, all of narrow gage. There is communication by telegraph and telephone between the various parts of the country, and submarine cables extend from La Libertad to coastal ports to the east and west. Holidays.-There are a number of national and local holidays, but with the exception of Good Friday there is no interruption in the handling of vessels by the Government officials at the port of La Union.

The standard time of El Salvador is that of the meridian of 90° W., or 6 hours slow of Greenwich.

HONDURAS.-The Republic of Honduras borders the Gulf of Fonseca for about 40 miles, between El Salvador and Nicaragua. The only port on this coast is Amapala, on the northwestern side of Tigre Island.

The country had a population in 1934 of 962,685, chiefly Indians with an admixture of Spanish blood.

Currency, weights, and measures.-The monetary unit is the lempira, which has a value of 50 cents, United States currency, and is coined in both gold and silver. Subsidiary coins of 50, 20, 10, and 5 cents are in use. The metric system of weights and measures is legal, but the English pound and yard are still used, as are also the following:

The standard time is that of 90° W., or 6 hours slow of Greenwich

HONDURAS-NICARAGUA- -COSTA RICA

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NICARAGUA.-The Republic of Nicaragua has a seacoast on the Pacific Ocean of about 200 miles between Honduras and Costa Rica. The principal ports on this coast are Corinto and San Juan del Sur. The country is traversed by two mountain ranges that enclose a great interior basin in which are the lakes Nicaragua and Managua. Lake of Nicaragua is very close to the Pacific, but both lakes drain to the Atlantic through the Rio San Juan.

The population of the country in 1930 was estimated at 750,000, composed principally of a mixture of Spanish and Indians.

Communications.-The Pacific ports of Nicaragua have regular steamer communication with San Francisco and with New York via the Panama Canal. There is also communication with neighboring coastal points, and occasionally with European and Asiatic ports.

Corinto is connected by railroad with Managua, the capital city. The principal places of the country are connected by telegraph and telephone.

Currency, weights, and measures.-The unit of money is the cordoba, which, in the form of bank notes actually in circulation, has an exchange value of 50 cents, United States currency. Subsidiary coins of silver, nickel, and copper are in use. United States notes and silver are also in circulation.

The metric system of weights and measures is in general use.

Holidays.-The Government offices at the ports are closed on the following holidays: January 1, September 15, October 12, December 25, and Good Friday.

The standard time of Nicaragua is that of the meridian of 86°17′30′′ W., or 5 h. 45 m. 10 s. slow of Greenwich time.

COSTA RICA.-The Republic of Costa Rica extends about 560 miles along the Pacific Ocean between Nicaragua and Panama. The irregular coast has a number of good harbors and is deeply indented by the Gulf of Nicoya and by the smaller Gulf of Dulce. The only port of any consequence on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is Puntarenas, on the Gulf of Nicoya.

The country is mountainous, and earthquakes have been experienced. The population was estimated on January 1, 1935, to be 565,429. Most of the inhabitants are of European descent, and the pure Spanish type is prevalent.

Communications.-About 12 steamer lines stop at irregular intervals at Puntarenas. The port is connected by railroad with San Jose, the capital, and with Limon, on the Atlantic coast. Submarine cables are operated from Puntarenas to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and to Panama. The principal places of the country are connected by telegraph and telephone.