LOOMS, TANNERIES.——Weaving and tanning are industries which at present exist in the Argentine only in a rudimentary condition, despite the conditions which are favourable to their development. QUEBRACHO WOOD.——The centre of production——Applications—— Companies engaged in the industry——Their results——Value of the products and the large profits to be expected. TIMBER TRADE.——Varieties of timber and hard woods. FISHERIES.——First results of this industry. III. MINES, ELECTRICAL AND OTHER INDUSTRIES 250 The Argentine has not entered the industrial age——She has no coal-mines in operation, no natural motive forces of any importance. MINES.——Symptoms of the awakening of the mining industry—— Numerous lodes in the Andes——The mines of La Rioja and Catamarca——Mines in other provinces and territories——Mining legislation. ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES.——Tramways; their development, their perfected equipment, and their profits——Progress of electric lighting——Telegraphs——Telephones. VARIOUS INDUSTRIES.——List of various industries established in Buenos Ayres, according to the last census, with the value of their products. Comparison between the statistics of 1895 and those of 1904—— Progress realised in 1908——Workshops and factories. IV. BANKS, THE BOURSE OR STOCK EXCHANGE, AND LIMITED COMPANIES 261 BANKS——International character of Argentine banking——Evolution of banking machinery——List of the principal banks, with amount of capital and business done——Conditions peculiar to Argentine banking; the lack of movable reserves——Rates of interest on account, on deposit, and on advances——Statistics of the deposit accounts of the principal banks——Exchange operations: their decrease since the determination of a fixed monetary ratio——The Clearing House; the importance of its operations. _The Bank of the Nation._——Its history——The formation of its capital——Political interference in the nomination of its Directors——Statistics of its accounts——Rapid increase of deposits——Difficulty of realising capital——The resumption of payments. _The Bank of the Province of Buenos Ayres_——Its reorganisation—— Its present prosperity.