No. 3578 Annual Series.

DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR REPORTS.

CHIN A.

REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1905

ON THE

TRADE OF HANI(OW.

RE.B'ERENCE TO PREVIOUS REPORT, Annual Series No, 338G.

Presented to both Houses of Pcti'liament by Command of His 1liajesty, .MAY, 1906.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR HIS i\L\..rnSTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE,

BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. l\IARTlN'S LANE, PUIXTE!!S IN OltDl;,i AllY TO IIIS lIAJ1lS'£Y .

.A.i:cl to be purchased either Llircctl.r 01· through any Booksdlcr, i'rJlll

vVYMAN AND SONS, LTD., FETTJrn LA;,ill, KC.; arnl

[Cd. 2682-103.J

32, AnnrnDON STREET, vV11S'l')IIN8TJrn, s.,v.; 01'

OLIVER AND BOYD, EIH;,illUHGH; or E. PONSOXDY, llG, Gnu·Tox SntEET, DrrnLrN,

1!)06. Price Tliree llalfpcnce.

CONTENTS.

-- PAGI!

Introductory-

Decrease in gross, apparent increase in net trade ...................................... . 3

Comparative table of trade, 1905-1903 ........................................................ 4

Movement of treasure

Conditions preventing expansion of tmde

Japan's exceptional position and treatII'.ent

Shipping-

Shanghai river trad~ ..................................................................................... .

Iohang river trade ................................................ .

Hunan steamer trade ...... .

Coast trade

Ocean

Apportionment of tonnage and cargo ..

Import&-,

N et foreign imports

N at,ive imports

Foreigners' direct trade

Opium

Cottons .............................. .

Woollens ....................... .

Metals, copper ............ .

Currency tokens .. .

Spelter, tin plates, leucl, &c ..

Foreign sundries and nati \'C imports

Kerosene oil.. .

Transit trade

Exports .... .

'.L'ea. ... .

]>ublic works

Railway ........ .

Anti-foreign feeling

Statistics ............... .

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5

5

6

6

7

7

7

7

8

g

g

9

9

9

10

10

10

11

11

1~

18

14

U,

17

18

18

18

No. 3578. Annual Series.

Reje1·ence to previous Report, Annnal Series No. 3386.

Report on ihe Tmde of Hanlcow for the_ Yea1· 1905

By MR. CONSUL-GENERAL FRASER.

(lfonkow, March 6, 190(3; received at Foreign Office, April 11, 1906.)

The Imperial Maritime Customs having as far as possible excluded Decreuse in

from t~ie table~ recording the portio~ of the trade of Hankow ?oming !;~~;ent under its cogmsance the goods consigned to places beyond this port, increase in the figures of the gross trade show a great diminution as compared net trade.

with former years. The net trade total has again advanced over 3f per cent., but the increase is only in imports classed as foreign and is more than accounted for by a temporary special demand for the material of a token currency, the adoption of which, coupled with the rise in exchange, has interfered with the consumption of foreign textiles and sundries.

For British trade especially the year cannot be considered favourable.

The following table shows the course of trade for the past three years. Values are given in both gold and silver as the rise in exchange has had an important influence on business.

(929) A 2

TABLE showing Course of Trade during the Years 1905-1903.

1905. 1904. 1903.

Currency. Sterling. Currency. Sterling. Currency.

H. to.els. £ H. taels. £ H. taels. Imports-

Foreign ,. .. .. .. 52,112,260 7,838,552 53,275,428 7,630,5.95 55,045,515

Native .. .. .. .. 12,775,863 1,921,702 31,228,403 4,472,818 22,397,827

Exports (native) .. .. .. 1 57,205,350 8,GOi,638 63,085,050 9,035,619 55,706,487

Gross tr-.iue .• I 122,003,473 18,364,892 147,588,881 21,139,032 133,149,829 .. .., ------·

Re-exports-

Foreign . , .. .. 4-,601,341 692,118 16,440,822 2,354,805 18,216,071 i

Native .. .. .. .. 6,449,086 970,050 24,014,462 3,439,572 15,804,258 ·-----

Total I

11,050,427 1,662,168 40,455,284 5,794,377 34,020,329 .. .. .. , i

Net trade .. .. "I 111,043,046 16,702,724 107,133,597 15,344,655 I 99,129,500

N OTE.-The nvel'O,ge value of the Haikmm tael was, during 1905, 3s. O,\,d.; 1904, 2s. lOJcl.; 1903, 2s. 1ad.

Sterling.

£

7,253,393

2,PSI,381

7,340,490

17,545,264

2,400,347

2,082,542

4,482,889

13,062,375

II'>-

.... ~ :,:: 0 ~

HANKOW. 5

The total import of treasure amounted to l,130,65ll., 123,582l. Movement of more than in 1904, of which one-third came from Changsha, pre- tre11sure.

sumably to pay for copper for its Mint, while Shanghai supplied under 21 against 38 per cent. last year. Of the export (l,555,532l.), nearly half was of copper coins, of which Shanghai and Chinkiang each took over 29(},000l. against trifling amounts in previous years. The former port also received 77 per cent. of the silver export of 7 43,336l. Gold, which had not appeared as exported or imported since 1900 (with the exception of a trifling export in 1902), was imported from Ichang to the value of 40ll. and exported to Shanghai to the value of 10,403l.

As pointed out in last year's report the favourable trade position C11uses of which on the map Hankow seems to occupy is in reality impaired tmde ~?t by the fact that the waterways meeting here are not fully navigable expan rng.

throughout the year. To this is added the action of the administra-tion, which during 1905 has reiterated the theory that foreign goods once they pass into Chinese hands are liable, even within the treaty port outside the foreign concessions, to whatever excise or other taxes the native authorities may choose to levy. In the case of foreign goods sent inland under transit pass the Chinese Government in 1896 admitted that after reaching the destination entered in the pass they were not liable to other or heavier taxation than similar goods coming thither from the treaty port unprotected by pass. This admission was made in regard to trade from Canton, and in the Hankow district no recent cause has arisen for citing it. But the theory now maintained reduces the import duty to a mere landing charge and deprives the port of any special character as opened for the benefit of trade. In particular cases that have arisen the foreign seller's point has been carried but never openly, and the, trouble caused to the native buyer cannot but forcibly dissuade him from attempting to deal with local foreign importers. This position Chinese of the authorities seems to be but a part of their consi~tent policy obje;tion to

f f · d1i f · h' h h · h forewn trade o un nen ness to ore1gn commerce w 1c as grown stronger wit " · the recent outcry for the recovery of China's sovereign rights. To

. the officials and the upper classes, if not also to the larger dealers, the purchase of foreign goods is a drain on China's resources, a diversion of the sources of gain to the pockets of outsiders, a bleeding of the rich body of China to be strenuously checked. This policy is not confined to foreign imports ; it extends to all foreign employment in the development of China, and especially to the use of foreign capital for factories, mines or railways. Its logical outcome would be the expulsion of everything foreign from the Empire. That trade must really be barter, that native capital is so inadequate even for ordinary trade purposes as to make interest high, and that to deplete the stock still further in order to put it into enterprises that can only make a moderate return is indeed to bleed China, are statements quite as incredible to Young China as that their claim to cancel concessions duly granted simply because these concessions prevent natives from engaging in unfamiliar enterprises, is a sure way to

(929) .

6 HANKOW.

ruin their country's credit abroad. The popular feeling-that is, the feeling of the mass of the Chinese having some tincture of education of some sort-is that foreigners have taken advantage of China's inexperience to obtain undue facilities for enriching them­selves, and that now all treaties, agreements, understandings and precedents must be construed against the foreigner with the utmost

Stimulated by strictness. This feeling is stimulated by the native press whose native press. utterances reach in a distorted form the vast illiterate masses of the

population, and whose tirades against the incompetence of former native statesmen help the secret societies, anti-foreign and anti­dynastic, to increase their membership.

,Japan's exceptionnl position.

J

Shipping (Annex .A.). Shanghai ril'er trode.

With a Government hostile to its development and ready by remitting taxation on Dative companie3 to throw the burden of taxes on to foreign trade, an educated class eager to stop the supposed drain of native resources due to that trade, it would be odd if foreign trade showed signs of healthy progress, even without the evil effect of the currency measures mentioned later on.

The position of other nations is, moreover, adversely affected by the anomalous favour felt for Ja pan, which renders that country's vigorous competition a very serious obstacle to any attempt to push our business relations with China.

Ja pan's geographical position must give her a great advantage in supplying the Chinese market, while national kinship and similarity in thought and custom particularly fits her people for penetrating into the interior and pushing their wares in the shops of towns and villages whence no one ever visits a treaty port. Japanese have in fact carried out to the utmost the suggestion of the value of com­mercial travellers and even pedlars made in a former Hankow trade report. Their operations are greatly aided by Chinese partiality. For instance, Japanese hawkers have appeared in the streets of Wuchang and the Japanese post office is about to open a branch there. Instead of the heated denunciation that such " invasions of the interior " would have called forth had the perpetrators been Britons or other foreigners, the native papers record that the police received strict orders to watch over these enterprising persons and laud the activity of the islanders in business.

Thus, while education appears to increase the old self-esteem and the contempt for other outer peoples, the former dislike for the Japanese is transformed into keen admiration. The explanation doubtless lies in the leaven of students returned from Japan who aspire, not without success, to take the place of a parliament and to express the views of the Chinese nation.

Against the adverse influences above cited every foreign nation will, I think, be hard put to it to maintain even what trade it possesses.

The shipping business between Hankow and Shanghai fell off during 1905 some 10 to 15 per cent. This decline was chiefly due to the relaxation at the lower Y angtse ports of the prohibition of export of cereals, especially of rice, which rendered export from

HANKOW. 7

Hankow unprofitable. Indeed, rice has recently come here from Wuhu and Kiukiang byjunk, and been put on this market at prices against which the produce of Hunan could not compete.

Freights fluctuated less than in 1904, and were rather lower. The smaller steamers of the lines outside the "pool," which during 1905 included only the lndo-China, China Navigation and China Merchants Steamship Companies, were, at their somewhat cheaper rates, kept better filled than the larger vessels of the three combined lines.

The only addition made during the year to the regular Lower River tonnage was the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company's "Kiang-hsin" of 2,101 tons register, built in Shanghai. It is reported that a large increase in specially adapted tonnage under the Japanese and French flags will be placed in the river in 1906. The French line has been coming for the last two years, and the Japanese will naturally, now the war is over, replace with Japanese vessels their chartered steamers of other flags.

The imports from Shanghai of piece-goods and yarn decreased at least 30 per cent. owing to the rise in tael exchange and the depreciation of the copper currency, in which retail sales are paid for in terms of silver.

,.,-

The amount of cargo carried westward was much the same as Steame1·

in 1904, the products of the Wuchang cotton mills filling the deficit tmmc with

f . t d d . d An . d hi f . Ieh:1ng. o rmpor e yarn an piece-goo s. mcrease s pment o opmm, say 20,000 against 15,000 chests, made the downward business some­what better.

Tonnage on this line is amply sufficient and no change took place during the year.

Cargoes to Changsha and Siangtan increased slowly but steadily, Ste11m traffic

whereas the curtailment ·of the rice export reduced by one-fifth wit.h Hun1tn.

return freights to be divided among a full supply of tonnage. This trade can never reach satisfactory development so long as for half the year steam navigation has to be suspended. The Hunan junk owners are determined and united, and the shippers who desert them in summer do not easily get transport in the low-water season. There is talk of having dredgers to improve the waterways to Hunan ports and of a conservancy board for the Siang River, but the Chinese of Hunan are not likely to consent to apportion the control and management according to the revenue drawn from foreign bottoms.

41 steamers cleared for Swatow direct against 37 steamers in 1904. Export to

Of these three, non-British, loaded in opposition to the pool, but a :'.vatow drop in rates and extra facilities offered at destination stopped this irect.

attempted rivalry. On April 26 the lndo-China's steamship "Yuen-wo" was C11suo.Ity.

burned off Tungchow with some loss of native life. Her place on the Shanghai-Hankow run is to be taken by a steamer of greater speed and dimensions now building at Hong-Kong.

No less than 10 steamers brought kerosene oil to Hankow, 4 Oce11n trndc. British.

Foreign.

Direct trade with Japun, mostly chartered.

Apportion­ment of tonnage und cargo,

8 HANKOW.

for the Standard Oil Company from America and 6 from Sumatra for the rival companies. Two cargoes of sleepers came from Otaru and one from Kobe, while 5 vessels brought Japanese coal for the brick tea factories ; 3 British vessels were chartered to carry machinery for the ironworks ; 6 steamers cleared nominally for London, 2 for Port Said and 1 at the beginning of November for Odessa with tea. .

Of the 16 German vessels entered from foreign ports 8 came from Japan, whither 6 took iron ore, as did 6 Norwegian, 8 Swedish and 13 Japanese steamers; 1 No1wegian vessel brought kerosene in tins from the United States of America and 2 Dutch kerosene in bulk from Sumatra; 1 German, 7 Norwegian, 3 Swedish and 4 Japanese ships entered with coal from Japan. Railway material from Antwerp formed the cargo of the 4 French steamers and Japanese railway sleepers of 4 of the Norwegian entries; 1 Norwegian and 2 Danish clearances were for London with tea.

The export of iron and antimony ore direct to Japan was practi­cally monopolised by the Mitsui Busan Kaisha, which despatched 32 steamers, and in May the Osaka Shoshen Kaisha inaugurated a direct line to Ja pan, the 23 sailings of which carried considerable quantities of cotton and vegetable seed, raw cotton, beans, bean cake, hemp, hides, jute, varnish, &c.

The apportionment among different :flags during 1905 of tonnage and cargo is shown in the following table :-

NaLionnlity.

British ... Chinese German Japanese ... Norwe,v.ian ... French American ... S\\eclish l'onish Dutch ... Austro-Hung~;·Ian :::

Perc,ntage of Tonnage. I Percentage of Trade. ---~---·------ - -- I -----------

Average Value Cargo

Carried · per Ton. F?l'eign \ Coast \ T ta! I Foreign \ ?oast \ Totul.

. 'frade. Trade. 0 • I Trade. 1rade.

------'----H. taels.

27 ·s3 48 ·55 47 ·05 61 ·28 49 '70 52·83 ;l7 "60 23 -~9 21 ·96 2·72 26·03 ID ·i3 32

1;. ·42 11 ·77 12 ·oa 1a ·a1 10 "82 11 ·49 a2 15·84 ]5·02 rn ·os J ·16 12 •54 9 ·-16 21 22 '55 o ·3a I ·95 12·29 0·25 3·51 64

8 ·3G 0 ·24 o·sa 4 ·18 I ·13 4G 0·28 0·2G 2·47 o ·oa ] ·05 50

5 ·95 0 ·OG 0 ·48 0·24 0·07 5 1 'i2 0 ·J;J 0 •47 0·40 107 2 ·a3 0 ·06 0 '23 0 ·G2 o ·1a 0 ·26 31

0 ·~6 0 ·07

·---------------- ---

On comparison with the similar table given in last year's report it will be noticed that British tonnage retained its position while taking l!- per cent. more of the cargo.

Japan and Norway have gained in tonnage at the expense of China and Germany, and China's share of the cargo has shrunk about one-fourth to the benefit of Norway and France chiefly.

The Russian flag was entirely unrepresented, while the increased direct trade with Ja pan not only employed many vessels of other countries but .raised the percentage of foreign to coast trade from 10! to over 27 per cent., and of foreign to coast tonnage from 5 to 7 · 3 per cent. of the total.

HANKO'\\'. 9

That the decrease of nearly 1,200,000 taels in the gross value Imporls

of foreign imports was really due to the exclusion from the Hankow (Annex~).

r~tur1;s of trade pertaining to places beyond is proved by the reduc- ~~;;r~:e:.~;0

,

t10n m re-exports from 16,440,822 to 4,601,341 Haikuan taels, ns did t.hoso which leaves the net foreign imports nearly 10,700,000 in advance direct from of 1904. The direct imports from abroad rose by 15,000,000 taels, ubroad. while the imports from native ports fell by almost the same sum. Of this transfer copper represents 11,500,000 taels and machinery 1,000,000 taels.

Gross native imports fell off nearly 60 per cent. and the net De~J"Ct1,e in

total decreased by nearly 1,000,00) taels, for which sugar and silk !1111ivet , , • unpor s.

piece-goods were mamly responsible. Leaving out of account the supplying qf Government depart- Forigners'

ments, such as the mints, the ironworks and the arsenal and the ~l,r?cb tratde . d f h . 'l di . d f rn unpo1 s. m ents o t e Peking-Hankow Rai way, the rect import tra e o foreigners here is confined to sugar, kerosene, cigarettes and the small retail purchases made by natives at the foreign shops, the number of which tends to increase. Textiles, needles, dyes, clocks, perfumes, soap, &c., are retailed by native shops at prices which do not leave margin enough for foreign management, though the Japanese incline to enter into the business. Such dealers naturally draw their supplies from time to time from the larger native importers in Shanghai, who will forward smaller individual quantities than the foreign importer cares to deal with. The pressure of likin lead'3 Chinese to open shops in partnership with Europeans now that this is legalised by the Japanese Supplementary Treaty-a device that i'l greatly resented by the Chinese authorities, who likewise are sus-picious of the native agencies in the interior authorised by the Japanese Treaty of Shimonoseki.

The arrivals of Indian opium were 11 cwts. less and the total Opi'.1111. value 646l. less. The amount retained in Hankow was nearly Indian.

11 cwts. more, as only 284 cwts. went on westward. The trade being entirely in Chinese hands, I cannot say whether the illegal collection of the boiled opium excise so soon as the drug left the Imperial Maritime Customs godown has really ceased.

The native drug is now subjected to special taxation, controlled NatiYe.

by a special commissioner for eight provinces, and this arrangement may develop into a Government monopoly for its sale throughout the Empire. It is also reported that the Viceroy thinks of making all retail dealers, if not the smokers themselves, wear a special dress or ,/ badge and be registered. Whether the provinces approve of the check on revenue already placed in the hands of the Central Govern-ment is open to doubt. The Hankow tables show a greatly reduced import and re-export with no less than 171 cwts. Yi.i.nnan, and 120 cwts. Szechuen opium left here against 79 cwts. Szechuen in 1904.

Foreign cotton goods declined in total value nearly 14 per cent. CotLons. The exceptions in piece-goods of any moment are British jeans, British and American sheetings, American drills, and the smaller

\Voollcus.

10 HANKOW.

item'l of Japanese and Indian T-cloths, Japanese handkerchiefs, towels and cotton cloth. Japanese yarn suffered more heavily than Indian. The explanation given by all the authorities. consulted is that the ultimate buyers paying in cash, while the retailer has to pay the wholesale dealer in silver and the latter to pay the importer in gold, the depreciation in the silver value of the 10 cash pieces, which have driven out the genuine cash, is so great as to far more than counterbalance the advantage of a high silver exchange. Hankow piece-goods dealers are calculated to have lost at least 600,000 taels during 1905 and the local market is very dull. Of the Shanghai mills' products. Hankow kept only 3,380 pieces of sheetings against 11,560 pieces in 1904, but the yarn supplied rose from 2,158 to 2,400 cwts. The Wu_chang mills' shirtings passed through the Imperial Maritime Customs were 60,435 pieces and their yarn 13,570 cwts., against 37,239 pieces and 56,289 cwts. last year. Their total production was 164,930 pieces shirtings and 100,000 cwts. of yarn, and their profit for the twelvemonth was at least 25 per cent., so that the Viceroy's share, in addition to the regular rent of 100,000 taels, was over 40,000 taels-a clear proof of what Chinese business men can do when free from official tutelage. It must be remembered, however, that the mills get transit passes gratis.

In the customs tables the various yarns are rated as follows per cwt. :-British, 4l. lls. 9d. ; Wuchang, 3l. 15s. 9d. ; Shanghai, 3l. 14s. 9d.; Japanese, 3l. Gs.; and Indian, 3l. 4s. 6d.

The only item in the list of woollens that compares favourably with preceding years is rugs and blankets, of which 96,469 lbs. were imported against 21,846 lbs. last year. Cotton and woollen mixtures such as alpacas, union cloths, tweed, serges and flannels fell in value from 22,520l. to 3,169l.

J\fiscellanrous In miscellaneous piece-goods gunny and Hessian cloths alone p,ece-goods. · d t 1 400 OOO d Met.als. Copier.

improve o c ose on , yar s. The abnormal import of copper discs, ingots and slabs for

currency purposes, commented on in my last report, was insignificant in comparison with the 1905 figures, which represent one-third of the

,r -· ,, total foreign imports for the year ; 10 cash tokens poured from both the silver and the cash mints in Wuchang, and the Hanyang Arsenal set up nearly a score of presses for stamping the discs from ,· 1, ~

,/

Ja pan, America and Europe. The numbers struck at the three places during the Chinese year are given as 1,864,000,000,

, 1,524,000,000 and 483,000,000. It was not till late a11.tumn that the Central Government, either alarmed by the rapid depreciation in the market value of these tokens, 100 of which were quoted as worth 82 tael cents in spring and 70 tael cents in winter, or jealous of the enormous profit netted by the provincial government, forbade the import of ready-made discs, and the year had almost c;losed before a fixed monthly number was allotted to each local mint. This check found Hupei with a stock of some 2,000 tons of copper, which cost its government on average at least 80l., and which was

HANKOW. 11

not saleable at much over 79l. Some 800 tons of ingots were resold to Europe before the China new year (January 25).

The result, of flooding the country with this debased coinage is particularly disastrous in provinces whose only real coinage has always been copper cash. Counterfeiting is rife; in every roll of 100 pieces bought at the Government banks are several unstamped discs, the perquisite of the worlanen ; the old good cash, the further coining of which has, since copper appreciated, become unprofitable, are rapidly disappearing; cash prices have risen, especially of the . i necessaries of life. The burden thus falls most crushingly on the v poorest classes, whose wages for a week's work were not at the best of times equivalent to 2 dol. and are now 20 per cent. less.

The shopkeepers protect themselves against the decline, just as foreign shops in China did against the former slump in silver, by liberal additions to their prices, which, moreover, tend to be quoted in silver cents ; the likin and other Government tax offices and the money changers run up the number of tokens required to buy a dollar or tael; and the hawkers sell nothing under a nominal 10 cash. But the coolie's wages do not rise in proportion, and it must be poor consolation to him to see the scores of new schools of all grades built on the profits of this tampering with China's immemorial currency.

The new tael pieces mentioned in my last report did not come into general use, perhaps because they were not accepted at face value for land tax and have no fixed exchange in copper cash; 200,000 are said to have been struck altogether and issued to the Government banks, which presumably hastened to return them to the Treasury ., in payment for the Government cash and dollar notes which continue to be accepted in faith that there is really_a silveq:eserve to meet them. They are also issued to the soldiers who promptly cash them at the Government banks.

Spelter rose to nearly four times last year's figures in sympathy Spelter.

"'.1-t~ copper, a~d tin pla~es aga~n adv~nced with the great arrivals of t:J~;;:: 011 m bulk ; while lead pigs declined with the tea export. All other Other rne1;:1Js.

important metal items improved, except tin slabs, which fell back to the normal figure of llO tons. ·

It is convenient to take foreign sundries and native imports Foreign together as some main items appear in both lists. sun.dries onil

Th . d f 1 d 1 . f 11:1t1vc e mcrease export o cerea s cause a arger Import o gunny imports. bags, taking foreign and native together, as a reduced export of Gunny bng,.

oils was accompanied by a fall in the value of empty casks from Co;ike.

10,332l. to 5,798l. Japan sent 3,532 reams of bank-note paper, valued at 9,042l., for Bunk-note

the expansion of the cash paper currency, as well as 3,060l. worth of potper and • =M

punted dollar notes. Another new item is 25 bicycles (215l.), on which the Chinese Bicycles.

delight to scour the streets of the concessions. Cement from abroad and from the Chinese Mining and Engineer- Cement and

ing Company's works near Tientsin totalled 5,486 tons, valued at fire-tricks.

Crucibles.

Cigo.rs nncl cigarettes.

Cuo.l, foreign o.ncl r.o.tive. Flour.

Mo.chinery.

Matches.

Kerosrne oil.

12 HANKOW.

13,314l., and that company's fire-bricks competed successfully with the Scottish article. Both items were in great demand at the mints and ironworks. The value of crucibles also rose 75 per cent. to 19,340l.

The value of the cigars imported remained about l,900l., but cigarettes rose from 12,404Z. to 17 ,957Z. The British American Tobacco Company have had great trouble in putting an end to native imitations of their brands, the pushing of which is also resented by the Japanese Tobacco Monopoly. The local agents of the latter in advertisements in the native press recommend their wares as made, under Government supervision, of the most harmless materials. Anonymous placards accuse their British-American rivals of putting poison in their cigarettes against which the anti-American agitation is also invoked, while smokers are urged to buy only the Government makes. These placards may emanate from boycotters or the native agents of the Japanese makes whose sales are declining owing to vigorous competition.

Foreign, mostly Japanese, coal fell owing to the competition of the P'ing-hsiang product ; but Kai-ping coal again advanced.

Foreign :flour dropped 60 per cent. to 6,420 cwts., and the Shanghai and Wuhu mills (11,900 cwts.) also felt the competition of the Hankow mill which exported, besides its local sales, 9,600 cwts. Another mill is reported to be starting under French auspices.

The re-organisation of the Hanyang ironworks caused the large increase in the importation of machinery.

Japanese and Shanghai matches alike diminished in face of the inferior but cheap local article.

The import of kerosene oil of all grades reached the unprecedented total of 26,390,610 gallons, being an advance over 1904 of 35 per cent. The stock at the end of the year was, however, some 11,000,000 gallons against last year's 6,900,000 gallons. The arrivals of Russian oil were insignificant, and, though the Baku fires have delayed indefinitely replenishment of the small stocks still in native hands, the price of this variety shows no sign of advancement and it tends to become unsaleable. The reason given by Chinese is that it cannot compete in cheapne$s with the tank oil nor in excellence with Devoe's "Brilliant," and the natives have no use for medium quality. Business in American kerosene was good, but the boycott agitation certainly curtailed sales for a time as buyers from the Standard Oil Company could not, like the dealers in American textiles, pretend the stuff came from some other country than the United States. The agitation was kept up partly by paid lecturers and returned students, partly by the native employes of com­peting houses. The local authorities did nothing to check the move­ment, asserting that they could not for the benefit of foreigners disregard their people's wishes, and ignoring the fact that the bulk of the people were intimidated into joining the agitation. Borneo oil appeared for the first time in large quantity and of low quality. Sumatra supplied little more than half its last year's figures, while

HANKOW. 13

Burma was not again represented. I understand that the Sbell Transport and Trading Company have combined with the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company to meet the increasing efforts of the American company. A deposit of oil in Shensi is talked of but the absence of a railway and the objection to inviting foreign co-opera­tion will probably prevent this factor affecting the business in the near future.

The completion of the bridge over the Yellow River presages a Railway plant heavy fall in railway plant and materials. The demand for sleepers and materials. is, however, likely to be maintained, as, in spite of special treatment Sleepers,

(for which some 50 tons of sulphate of copper were imported), they wear out fast.

The decrease in native sugars from Swatow is by dealers ascribed Sugo.r. to extra local taxes which have driven the Honan supply round by Chinlciang. It is also asserted that the Swatow farmers find the growing of vegetables for their countrymen in the Straits Settlements a more profitable employment of their land. Some 20,000 casks of brown sugar (net weight 38,000 cwts.) come to this market every year from Szechuen, the white sugar of that province being too costly. 'The demand for Hong-Kong refined sugar continues to increase. Ja pan sent 10,000 bags of refined Formosa sugar for the first time this winter, but it proved too damp, and the few thousand bags of German beet sugar have also met with small favour, though German candy has almost a monopoly, the annual import being close on 10,000 bags of 180 lbs. each. Java raw sugar is imported according to demand. Of cube sugar, which is too expensive for the natives, not more than 500 cases of 20 6-lb. tins are used on this market every year.

The Shanghai paper mill sent 615 against 443 tons in 1904, Pupcr.

and of this less than 80 tons went on westward. Native paper also improved a little.

The import of tea dust for mixing in brick tea increased three- Teo. dust. fold in face of a smaller export of bricks. •

Zinc ore from Hunan took advantage of steamer carriage with the Zinc ore. result that the import rose from 106 to 7,367 tons, of which 1,968 tons were re-exported.

The value of dutiable articles arriving from abroad by parcel post, Parcel pest. which cannot be assigned to other headings, appears as a separate item for the first time and reaches the respectable sum of 3,956l., while the assessed value of those sent away through the various post offices is no less than 336,667l. •

The customs have ceased to publish details of the transit trade. Tmnsit tr,tde. The total value of goods sent inland under pass again diminished, Inward.

from 819,I07l. to 668,918l., partly owing to direct imports to Changsha, as Hunan accounts for 58 per cent. of the total fall. The chief destinations and values were, as usual, Hunan, 233,99Il. ; Kueichou, 125,640l.; Shensi, 124,175l.; and Szechuen, 66,75Il.; the same provinces taking in 1904 321,097l., 170,95Il., 133,275l. and 89,382l. respectively.

14 HANKOW,

Outwe.rd. The value of native produce brought down from the interior under pass rose from 22,495l. to 80, 785Z. Of yellow beans and tobacco leaf Hupei and Honan supplied 3,571 and 11,452 cwts. and 20,833 and 67,526 cwts. respectively, and from the latter province also came 317,600 lbs. of samshu. The British firm mentioned in last report was enabled to get its tobacco from Kansu to the amount of 1,800 cwts., but the growers will not dare to repeat the venture.

Exports The crops were again good, and exports of native produce, apart tnne\C). from tea, continued to be large, though interfered with by exchange, bt~s~!::s good. which ruled high and fluctuated to such an extent as to encourage

speculation. Tael prices do not seem to be now much affected by exchange, as the native dealers are upheld by the increased number of foreign firms competing in the " muck and truck " trade, and the compradores continue the dangerous practice of contracting for forward delivery, which compels them to cover at the dealer's price. The European and American market prices were exceptionally high, and so counteracted to some extent the high exchange.

The decline in the total value of the exports is mostly due to the exclusion of transhipment cargo from the returns, as already noticed, but the exports to native ports were l,188,689Z. lower, those to foreign· countries only 303,704l. higher than last year. Rice, raw cotton and cow-hides are chiefly responsible for the fall, while pig iron, beans, hemp and cotton cover the rise.

Te11• For the following remarks on trade in tea, hides, sesamum seed, &c., I am indebted to local firms:-

The total supplies of Hankow teas during the season were 514,325 half-chests against 635,556 half-chests in 1904, and the settlements on this market 450,752 half-chests against 592,947 half-chests last year. For Kewkiang teas the Hankow settlements amounted to 177,178 half-chests against 196,472 half-chests in 1904. The total Russian settlements are estimated at 500,000 half-chests out of the total of 627,930 half-chests. Direct shipments to London came to 3,126,228 lbs. against 5,185,381 lbs. in 1904. The subjoined table shows that while the effect of· the Russo-Japanese war in diverting trade was less than in the previous year the total business done was the least for many years. The amount of leaf, brick and stalk tea sent up the Han River for Mongolia and Siberia was about the same, viz., 363,700 lbs., valued at 5,623l. :-

HANKOW. 15

Q,uantity.

Destine.tion. 1------··- . ··---·

1905. I 1904. 1903. 1902. I

·-------- -------·- ------·--

Lbs. I Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. United Kingdom* 6,000,889 112,73.~,602 8,555,347 6,20R,070 Russia in ..A.sia* " " 17,473,276 5,656,447 Russia in Europe* .. 27,435,5SO 30,980,444 "13,449,118 18,056,630 'l'ient8in and North portst 9,446,866 ! 3,400,000 1,579,874 9,558,948 United Ste.tes of America I

4,536,600 !

6,852,739 6,t!,1,2,278 10,785,047 and Canade.t . . , · \ Continent of Europet , , 1,953,360 3,342,566 2,467,502 2,032,314

------------------- ------* Part viO. She.nglmi. t .All via She.nghe.i.

The market opened on May 15, the latest date ever recorded, First crop.

so soon as Kewkiang teas reached Hankow. Of these Khemuns were distinctly inferior to last year's, but a strong Russian demand kept up the price. Ningchows were a fair average crop. The well-known Ichang chops were also not up to last season's, but were promptly bought at a reported price of over 66 taels. Hankow teas were generally of poor style, the best being those from the Yang­low-tong and Tong-shan districts. Deliveries of Hankow teas were fairly up to muster, but the bulk of many Khemun and Ningchows not only arrived very late but differed widely from the buying sample. An attempt is again being made to induce the native authorities really to prevent such frauds.

Of the second crop the amount was only half last year's ; Ning- Second crop.

chows were better than usual, but the few Khemuns shown were poor and were mostly sent to the Shanghai market. Hankow teas were also disappointing in cup quality.

Third crop Hankows arrived in nearly as great quantity as last Third crop.

year, and a keen demand led to their getting better prices than their thinness in cup and irregularity in leaf deserved.

There was no direct steamer for London; the through rate by Freight.

Conference steamers via Shanghai was, as in 1904, 2l. l2s. 6d., or 2l. 6s. plus river freight per ton of 40 cubic feet. For Odessa 10 steamers (which cleared for London and the Continent) loaded on private terms. One of these vessel's cargoes was actually landed in London.

Exchange on Lor.don at opening of the season was 2s. 9116 d. Exchauge.

against 2s. na., and remained fairly steady till in August four months' sight credits were quoted at 2s. IOd., after that the rate steadily advanced until at the close of the year it was 3s. 0/fjd.

Of brick tea 7,870,933 lbs. black and 1,236,133 lbs. green were Brick tea. passed as for London ; Tientsin and Shanghai took 12,960,000 lbs. black, and the former port 29,958,000 lbs. green; the balance was divided between Odessa and Vladivostock.

Of the 190,000 lbs. of tablet tea, valued :Lt 21,145l., Shanghai was Tablet and the destination given for one-fourth, London and Odessa for one- log teu..

16 HANKOW.

fifth each. All the log tea, 2,387,200 lbs., valued at 20,064l., was shipped for Tientsin. The former variety was little more than a quarter of last year's export.

IIi,lcs. The market for cow-hides has been following last year's rates and stiffened to the highest figures known, 38 taels per picul, equiva­lent to ls. per lb. c.i.f. London. It is doubtful whether much business was done at this rate owing to short supply. Buffalo-hides were in as short supply as cow-hides, and the Hankow market does not seem likely to expand even under the stimulus of steadily rising leather prices in Europe and America. The Japanese demand did not interfere with foreign business, as it was most active in autumn for lower grades.

Goat.skins. The output of goat-skins has of late years enormously increased, and now stands at over 30,000 cwts. High exchange and the keen demand of American manufacturers ran the local price up to the record figure of 2s. per lb. for Szechuen produce c.i.f. home ports.

OU1cr skins. The fancy skin market (e.g., otters, raccoons) opened high, and the demand ~or Ja pan has maintained rates at a figure unprofitable for European business. In weasel-skins business is being done at an advance of 35 per cent. over 1904 rates.

Bristles. / Home markets for bristles were very bad indeed, and the high exchange made tael prices look very low. So little produce came forward and few transactions took place, London offering 5d. or 6d. under the Hankow price for the usual long assorted, which is equivalent to 2s. 9d. per lb. c.i.f.

Jute and A considerable business was done in jute and china grass at grnss. remunerative rates, but it is doubtful whether the demand for the

former will continue and whether a good deal of the native article will be up to the home market standard.

Tallow and The markets for tallow and gall-nuts showed little improvement gall-nuts. owing to the high exchange. OL"cs. Hunan crude antimony and ore were exported in greatly reduced

quantity ; iron ore from the Ta-yeh mines went to Ja pan to the amount of 93,900 tons against 38,108 tons in 1904 without reducing the Japanese consumption of pig iron from the Han yang works, of which the export to Chinese ports also increased fivefold to 18,900 tons.

Raw cotton. Messrs. Liddell Bros. and Co. have installed a first-class pressing house for raw cotton, and Messrs. Carlowitz and Co. are also having presses set up to deal with the loose native bales. The direct export to Ja pan more than doubled though the export to Chinese ports fell off 5') per cent.

Cereals or.cl The operations of the Hankow mill did not affect the export flour. of wheat and pearl barley (55,000 against 33,150 bushels); the export

of white and yellow beans benefited by the demand in Ja pan as did bean cake. The Hunan rice harvest was a failure.

Oils and The trade in sesamum seed is increasing as the railway tends seeds. to divert to Hankow the supply hitherto finding its way by the

waterways and the Grand Canal to the east coast. Cotton seed to

IIANKOW. ]7

the amount of 7,888 tons was shipped to Japan. Sesamum-seed oil extracted by the native careless fashion fell 70 per cent., but wood oil since the price moderated has been freely dealt in for Germany, Italy and New York where its value in furniture polish and varnishes is appreciated.

The United Kingdom still prefers the Kauri gum from New Zealand, the supply of which is said to be failing. There is some talk locally of establishing a seed-crushing plant to produce clean sesamum and other oils, the refuse being sold as manure.

Foreign buyers are neglecting China musk more and more owing Musk.

rather to the excessive adulteration than to low prices. What busi-ness was done was confined to Shanghai as two purchases made here in 1903 resulted in the musk being returned as absolutely unsaleable, and it proved very difficult to make the native settlers accept responsibility. ·

The export of tobacco assumed considerable dimensions. The Tobacco.

Viceroy is starting an experimental estate and sheds for improving the curing and cultivation in the hope of ultimately establishing a cigarette factory. A British merchant is entrusted with the supervision of the enterprise and is to engage an overseer from Manila.

The embankment mentioned in last report was carried out in a Generil.l,

manner that on the whole won the approval of a foreign engineer Newb k t . em o.n men.

and kept the flood waters out of an area of some 50 13quare miles. When the effect of the water's "lipping" has been remedied and some weak spots strengthened the dyke should prove a permanent boon. The cost, owing to the haste in building and the late date at which work began, was very great; it is said to be over 100,000l. without allowing anything for compensation to landowners.

The scheme for bunding the front of the native town has not been Bunding. pressed ; but it is reported that the Japanese concession bunding will be proceeded with this year.

Building by foreigners and Chinese was active in the concessions Building and and their neighbourhood. The British Concession Extension is land raising.

being rapidly raised to bund level now that the new embankment enables work to go on without interruption and the Chinese are busily engaged filling in the land behind it up to the railway embankment. Land is quoted at a very high figure, though actual sales are not many.

The Viceroy is building a macadamised road along the old New road. defence wall which is to be paid for by selling lots of land on either side. It is noteworthy that the rules forbid foreigners having any interest in this public work in a treaty port.

A British firm has obtained authority to instal electric light Electric light. in the Concessions, but the Chinese authorities refuse to let them do anything in the native town.

The Viceroy engaged a British engineer to examine and report on Waterworks. waterworks for Hankow, which His Excellency proposes to carry out by a joint company registered at the Chinese Board under Chinese

(929) B

Railwe.y.

Anti-foreign feeling.

18 HAN'KOW.

commercial law, the native interes~ having preponderance in every­thing but the supply of capital. Negotiations are still proceeding with the British firm that originated the scheme.

The railway now runs through to Peking, the Yellow River bridge having been completed in autumn, and is, I believe, doing good business.

The last Bentence of my 1904 report is still true, namely, that in every department of trade the Chinese authorities are showing a determined disposition to " recover China's resources of profit and power," in other words, to curtail to the utmost the rights granted to foreigners by the treaties.

Annex A.-RETURN of all Shipping at the Port of Hankow during the Year 1905.

ENTERED.

I : So.Hing. Steam. Toto.1.

Flo.g. Number I Number Nmnber I of Tons. of 'l'ons. of Tons. Vessels. Vessels. Vessels.

I I

British .. .. 3 1,532 695 933,448 ! 698 934,980 Chinese .. " 1,283 125,789 369 310,267 j 1,652 436,056 · German ,, " 8 1,808 209 237,061 i 217 238,869 Norwegi11n .. " " 36 38,936 I 36 38,936 Americ,m " " " 11 5,071 11 5,071 French " " .. .. 4 16,403 4 16,403 J ap:mese .. " " .. 270 300,072 270 300,072 Other Hugs " " 15 17,512 15 17,512

'l'oto.l " 1,294 129,129 l,U09 1,858,770 I 2,903 1,987,899

" 1904 •. 1,2,11 138,039 1,417 1,546,414 2,658 1,684,453

HANKOW.

CLEARED.

19

811,iling. Steam. Total.

Flag. Number Number Number of Tons. of Tons, of Tons.

Vessel8. Vessels. Vessels.

British .. .. 3 1,532 692 933,313 695 934,845 Chinese .. .. 1,286 12G,334 368 310,261 1,654 436,595 German .. .. 9 2,034 208 237,052 217 239,0S6 Norwegian .. .. 35 38,306 35 38,306 Japanese., .. .. .. 269 299,022 269 299,022 American .. .. .. 11 5,071 11 5,071 French .. .. .. .. 4 16,403 4 16,,t.03 Other flags .. .. .. 15 I 17,512 15 17,512

I ---------

1rot11,l .. 1,298 129,900 1,602 1,856,940 2,900 1,986,840

" 1904 .. 1,236 136,864 1,430

I 1,552,496 2,666 1,689,360

Annex B.-RETURN of Principal Articles of Import to Rankow during the Years 1905-1904.

Articles.

Opium

Cotton goode-Shirtinge, grey, plain­

British American

She•tings, grey, plain­British American ...

Shirtinire, white­British Dutch ...

Drille­Britieh American

Jeans­British American ...

T-cloths, British Chintzes, printed Cotton-

It!llians Lastings

Turkey-red cambrics Colton flanncl­

BriLish American

Cotton yarn­British Indian ... Japanese

Other cotton goods

Total

Woollen goode­Camlets, British Cloth-

Hroad1 &c. Russian

Long ells ... Lastings ...

... Li>s.

Pieces

Li>•.

Pieces

Yarde

::: I Pie:~es

1905. 1904.

Quantity. Value. Quantity. I Value.

36,040

622,522 14,790

78,207 79,579

336,165 22,404

27,618 234,429

54,288 2,660

83,834 37,035

246,823 125,195 56,109

3,201 21,188

498,666 6,915,066

23,~04,533

£ 27,121

242,928 6,260

38,169 33,791

184,062 12,974

13,490 126,226

21,a.;4 1,229

22,095 12,839

177,109 57,114 17,723

1,856 11,959

20,453 198,927 683,236 110,599

- - --- ·-- ---

20,373

709,507 27,055

69,994 71,135

610,847 20,275

26,961 130,960

42,195 5,310

85,581 78,312

272,125 154,527 75,313

49,426 34,867

223.GOO 7,824;666

30,876,000

£ 25,140

287,090 11,173

33,M5 30,924

285,334 11,180

12,042 70,684

16,950 2,a2a

23,319 24,676

208,181 74,MB 25,349

25,JOI 18,488

9,247 ll3,497 815,908 129,372

1-----1·-------------

10,397

8~.709 13,602 13,855 6,240

1,994,893

19,705

18,887 2,148

11,358 9,621

14,847

89,478 28,510 27,563 8,871

24,242

19,22{ 4,492

21,121 11,816

20 HANKOW.

RETURN of Principal Articles of Import to Hankow during the Years 1905-1904-continued.

Articles.

WooJlen goods-continucd­Spanish stripes •.. Berlin wool ... Cotton and wool mixtures Other wooJlens ...

Total

Miscellaneous piece-goojs­Gunny cloth Hessian ., ... ... Plush, veJ\"et, silk mixture Others

Tutal

Metals­Copper-

Yards Lbs.

Yards

Ingots and sl .. bs Tons " Japanese ...

Discs " Japanese

Iron-\Vire nails Galvanised sheets

Lend, pigs and bars Spelter ... ... • .. Steel bo.rs, sheets, plates Tin-

Plntee, plain ..• Slabs

Other metals

Total

Sundries­Bo.gs, ~unny, new and old Birds' nests Buttons, brass Cigarettes Crucibles Dyes, aniline

Pieces Lbs.

... Gross

Fire-bricks Pieces Ginseng, American, Corean ... Lbs. 11Inchinery Mntches 1 malerials Mats, straw Medicines Ncec11es ... Oil, kcrC'sene-

American American bulk Bol'Ileo ... Borneo bulk ... Russian Sumntrnn Snmatran bulk

Pepper, black

Pieces

Thousands

Gallons

LlJ~.' Railway plant and materials ... Sleepers . .. Piec~; Seaweed ... .. Tons Sugar-

ReHned Brown, white, candy

Tea dust, Ceylon

Cwts.

Lb~. ,, Indian ... ... "

Umbre11as, cotton, Japanese ... Pieces Other sundries ...

Total

,, foreign im po1ts ,, native

Grand totnl

1905.

Quantity. I Value.

42,730 8i,8oo

392,464 398,054 27,368

£

3,535 D,771 3,169 4,310

82,504

3,543 3,59'2 7,410 9,104

23,649

1904.

Quantity. I Value.

100,262 115,333

245,005 324,424

30,208

£

8,616 12,866 22,520

4,252

129,149

2,105 2,788 7,464

13,569

25,926 -------- ------1-----

13,197 3,905 1,806 8,053

1,431 973

1,568 I,286

696

2,689 JOO

4,998,200 9,345

169,689

1,414,393 8,362

l,213,96U

612,617

9,063,870 4,654,GOO

912,850 4,927,049

644,500 650.000

5,537,741 941,200

45'.664 7,72·1

175 050 212:604

4,000,6ti6 1,068,100

262,438

978,754 284,742 191,805} 878,096

14,100 13,603 20,714 29,883 16,501

39,414 11,875 99,342

2,578,859

80,074 20,670

7,670 17,9<57 19,341 52,461 20,467 15,224

263,987 22,828 18,260 21,/i20 17,600

201,504} 71 C63 16:999} 71,254 14,583 l:J,2iiii} 94,b75 20,970

227,000 92,753 37,668

121,995 159,756 80,883 20,610 11,842

604,340

2,439,409

7,146,435 951,652

8,098,087

942 4,820

55i

1,302 438

1,806 348 I·!O

3,888,179 9,970

315,199

8°6;908 26,601

1,278,066

716,575

4,995,395

IO,:J78,21G

1,291,201

31,750 8,379

120,257 2C5,400

1,483,200 197,467 344,232

63,781 342,716

55,987

12,533 5,866

24,768 7,57,i 4,528

31,135 18,180 82,785

649,864

54,493 16,425 lP,058 12,404 10,523 M,480

1,970 23,701 97,895

18,306 19,166 20,835

115,263

114,372

244,708

27,741 298,623

3,102 64,356

77,406 114,626

31,866 4,242

19,722 652,205

2,116,488

5,275,790 1,033,247

6,309,037

HANKOW. 2l

RETURN of Principal Articles of Native Net Import to Hankow during the Years 1905-1904.

1905. 1904. Articles.

I Quantity. Value. Quantity. I Value.

£ £ Begs, gunny ... ... ... Pieces .. . 1,243,126 11,540 1,393,011 12,449 Bamboo shoots ... ... ... Cwts. . .. 45,645 45,424 55,100 51,688 Booke, printed ... ... .. .

T~~B ... 4,306 34,692 3,407 39,878

Coal, Kaiplng mines ... ... ... 76,390 17,257 13,269 14,615 Cuttle fish ... ... .. . ... Cwte. ... 4,949 14,319 1,698 3,707 F.1ns ... ... ... ... ... Pieces .. . 2,09ij,081 7,563 2,425,775 12,751 Mete ... ... ... ... ...

" ... 202,906 18,312 209,875 8,510

Medicines ... ... ... ... ... .. . 86,1~5 ... 69,153 Mnsk ... . .. ... ... Lbs. ... 301 9,795 663 17,422 Oil, castor ... ... ... ...

" . .. 1,096,400 23,377 601,733 10,769 Opium, netlve ... ... ...

" .. . 32,568 15,849 8,8'7 6,092 Peper, Shanghai mills ... ... Cwts. ... 10,767 16,644 22,600 64,968

,, joss ... ... ... ... Lb; . .. . 7,364 32,358 7,045 32,578 Silk piece-goods ... ... ... ... 232,667 160,363 ~08,533 249,674

11 and cotton ribbons ... ... "

... 36,133 11,954 43,867 14,902 Sngar-

Brown ... ... ... .. . Cwts. ... 116,667 67,366 15R,933 89,118 White ... ... ... ...

LlJ1

s . .. . 108,617 86,106 160,227 129,541.

Tea dust ... ... .. . ... 3,329,333 37,461 1,854,933 12,663 Other eundriee ... ... ... .. . ... 266,117 .. . 193,076

Total ... ... . .. ... ... 961,652 .. . 1,033,247

22 HANKOW.

RETURN of Principal Articles of Export from Hankow during the Years 1905-1904.

Article,.

Colton shirting• ••• . .. 11 yarn ... . ..

Albumen ... ... . .. Antimony, ore and crude Bean cake ... ... . .. BC'an~-

Hl1tck Grr-fn ... .. . \\.llite, yellow .. .

Bnuks, printed .. . Bri:-tles ... . .. Chinn-root ... .. . Cloth, native .. . Coul ... ... . .. Coke... ... . .. Cotton, raw ... Egge, fresh... . .. Fungus ... . .. Groundnuts ... Gypsum ... . .. Hemp ... , .. Hides-

HufTalo ... ... . .. Cow ... . ..

Iron, pig or unmanufactured Jute... ... ... . .. Medicines ... ... . .. Mu,k ... ... ... )lut-gnlls ... ... . .. Sesamum ... ... . .. Oil-

Tea ... ... . .. \Yood .. ... . ...

Opium, Szechuan, Yiinnan Paper ... ... ... Rice ... ... . .. Seede-

Cotton ... . .. Lily or lotus ... Rape or vegetable Sesamum... ..

Silk-Raw, white, yellow ... l!efuec ... . .. Cocoons, refuse ... Pieces ... . .. Pongees, Honun ...

Skin, clothing ... Skins-

Goat Lamb ... Sheep ... Others ...

Tallow­Animal ... Ve~etable

Tea-Bluck •.• Green ... Brick, lJlock ...

Log green ...

Tablet ... Tobacco--

Leaf ... Prepared

Varnish Vermicelli \Vax, white .. . Wheat .. . Wooct-

Coflln ... ... .. . Poles ... ... .. .

Wool, sbeep ... . .. Postal parcels ... .. .

. .. Piecee

... Cwts.

. .. T0ns

::: T~~e .. Lbo.

::: T~~s

::: C~ts. . .. Number ... Cwts.

:::/ T~~s

... Cwts.

::: T~~s . .. Cwts.

. .. Lbs.

... Cwto.

::: Lb~. ... Tons ... Cwts.

" " " "

... Lbs.

" "

" "

... Cwts.

... Lbs.

" " " " " " "

1905.

Quantity. I Value.

G0,435 73,670

50fi 2.676

993,943

129,903 315,196

2,996,813 140

l,308,l:l3 2,254,133 1,604,000

72,422 17,19[

300,338 ... 53,956,660

19,584 94,912

342,797 I0,3i3

25,913 107,973

31,426 46,952

115 45,274

18,324 450,181 332,515

4,183 1,338,398

283,460 29,974 14,000

898,157

524,133 1,149,067

405,200 6,5:13

33,600 42,771

•.. 2,778,200 259,370

60,930

5,414 1~9,281

• •. 50,438,533

... 28,182,266

... 21,a11,ioo

... 2,387,333 759,867

£ 38,665

275,077 24,654 21,303

130,607

36,928} 117,878 911,687

18,70f> 100.590 21,589 62,258 88,466 24,572

588,190 27,466

128,626 27,820 19,058

286,395

66,196 409,644 148,502 35,891

203,6\i 4,112

108,567

[7,179 499,418 132,644 64,676

328,043

33,992 35,936 4,006

477,684

214,148 37,848 11,933 4,092

12,732 20,2u

219,902 62,059 14,287 24,999

6,573 219,547

150,228 276,692

20,063 21,146

154,146 181,859 126,778

Quantity. I V&luo.

37,239 56,289

313 6,400

635,115

3,173,222

247 2,645,867 2 801 333 J:491:866

83,t91 7,437

495,712 34,69P,770

24,107 108,349 352,251

10,034

33,147 182,048 13,767 14,684

3,882 54,706 54,280

24,015 605,873

1,470,109 a, 101

2,660,674

154,759 34,756 79,365

735,312

1,187,666 . 1,400,000

I, 776,800 128,533 111,870 51,965

3,109,168 102,055 104,044

20,844 230,608

69,186,266 194,000

23,119,866 35,027,466

1,407,867 673,067

11,464,800 9,780,800 1,783,733

£ 21,867

198,428 18,805 82,540 61,129

1,047,411

43,194 rn1,~,rn 22,524 67,0[2

100,203 10,651

1,058,056 16,769

152,295 29,982 21,190

265,537

79,472 648,197 44,611

7,950 248,201 120,067 115,020 54,193

26,044 486,871 780,b21

60,019 913,757

17,547 43,763 21,601

353,875

538,487 41,468 64,157

103,069 3·1,720 23,496

264,241 17,659 13,533 20,002

23,82[ 280,849

1,271,687 5,218

205,381 382,859

)0,165 16,367

74,060 ... 18,805,333 •.. 10,588,666

2,136,400 25,946 3,832

1,199,049 ::: B~1

sbele* :::

18,686 24,955

144,245

33,724 10,930

953,185

162,230 76,570 22,721

126,061 114,256

... Pieces

::: Lb~~

292,493 28,827 268,323 30,872 420,805 76,588 476,573 102,389 248,267 3,801 4,062,000 85,220

. .. 336,667 .. . . .. Other.exports and re-exports ... ... Hl9,156 872,695

Total --.. -. --1 9,674,688 ---- 12,476,191

• Of 62 lbo.

HANKnW. 23

TABU: showing Total Value of all Articles Exported from and Imported to Hankow to and from Foreign Countries during the Years 1904-05.

Exports e.nd Re-Imports. exports.

Country. . ..

1904. I 1905. 1904. I 1905.

£ £ £ £ United Kingdom .. .. 630,292 753,R70 105,629 3H,727 Hong-Kong .. .. . . .. 581 391,620 498,503 Borneo •. .. .. .. .. .. .. 57,791 Straits Settlements .. .. .. 1,981 86,531 69,170 India .. .. .. .. .. . . 88,721 108,189 Australia .. .. . . .. .. 7,166 British Americo. .. .. .. .. 84 806

-· Total British possessions 530,292 75fl,482 567,:195 1,110,802

United States of Americo. .. .. .. 39,830 1,143,776 Philippines .. .. .. .. .. .. :l5 Europe (except Russin) .. 847,900 26,971 363,131 460,231 Russin (via Odessa) .. .. .. 110,759 14,528 427 Russie. e.nd Siberia. (via Kiakta) .. 80,502 .. .. Japan .. .. .. .. 144,804 398,960 597,920 1,234,234 Jave. .. .. . . .. .. . . 785 631 Sume.tro. .. .. .. . . . . 206,430 20,0511 Turkey in Asia, Egypt e.nd

Aden •• .. .. .. 126 64,345 349 716 ------ ----

Total abroad .. .. 1,023,122 1,437,969 1,790,3'\3 3,970,795 Chinese ports .. .. .. 13,806,874 8,828,837 10,313,060 6,787,460

- ---·-- ·-----Gmnd total .. •• 14,829,996 10,266,806 12,103,413 9,i58,255

LONDON: Printed. for His Majesty's Stationery Office,

BY HARRISON .A.ND SONS, Printers in Ordinary to His Mo.jest,y.

(1400 5 I 06-H & s 929)