SWATOW
A411
oranges shipped in 1939 did not approach the quantities that were exported in 1938; but the price greatly increased in 1939 and, in consequence, the value of the export trade was increased during the period under review by $676,000 compared with the previous year. Silverware and 2nd quality paper were also in strong demand, and exports increased in value for each commodity by over $200,000. Some exports of China were, in months subsequent to the outbreak of hostilities, prohibited export, and this embargo included certain staple articles, namely, hemp skin, bamboo poles, potatoes, and potato flour, Under special arrangements some shipments of hemp skin were permitted, but, gen- erally speaking, the trade in these commodities has temporarily ceased. To export certain other products it was necessary that shipments should be covered by a certificate of purchase of foreign exchange. This restricted trading in some Swatow exports, the main ones of which were originally bambooware, woodware, eggs, buffalo hides, pewterware, and ramie thread. At the begin- ning of 1939, however, bambooware, woodware, and eggs were cancelled from the list.
The value of exports to Chinese ports was only $10.7 million as compared with $25.4 million for the whole of 1938 and $12.4 million for the first six months of 1938. The outstanding decline was in the export coastwise of native sugar; in 1938 shipments were valued at $12 million and in 1939 at $4.8 million. The season for the export of native sugar is the late autumn and winter, and in the autumn of 1939 Swatow was closed to trade, which accounts for the low value of this commodity exported. Another reason was the closure of the Yangtze River to trade and competition from Japanese sugar in Northern ports. The export coastwise of chemical medicinal preparations, which rose to the very high figure of $2.3 million in 1938, fell to a negligible value in 1939 due to the removal inland of the Tiger Balm Factory. The export of joss paper fell from a value of $4 million in 1938 to $1.2 million in 1939. Other declines, mainly owing to the restriction of trading to only six months, were in 2nd quality paper, coarse chinaware, matches, oranges and drawn-thread work.
The Kityang Sugar Central, Tiger Balm Factory, native kerosene factories, and match factories all closed during the early part of 1939 and were moved to the interior, or their machinery was destroyed. The Swatow Electric Com- pany, after being partially destroyed by aerial bombing at the end of June 1938, was repaired in 1939 and electricity was again supplied to the public. Owing to the hostilities in June 1939 the company suspended operations. In August the supply of electricity to part of the town was resumed under a new administration. The power produced is insufficient to supply the whole town. The water supply was also destroyed when the town was occupied in June. Repairs were effected and water was again supplied a month or so later, but at reduced pressure. Embroidery of linen and drawn-thread work is in the main a cottage industry, the designing, washing, ironing, inspection, and packing being carried out in Swatow. The occupation of the port greatly handicapped transport of the goods to and from the country districts, but laundering and packing staffs mostly remained in Swatow throughout the air- raids and occupation, and the drawn-thread and embroidery industry is doing fairly well in spite of difficulties.
The total tonnage of steamers which entered and cleared the port during 1939 was 2,171,487. Considering that this covers only six months' trading, the figures compare well with the previous year's 3,621,623 tons.
A14