SALT MANUFACTURE IN HONG KONG
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pond to evaporate to dryness. This will take 8 to 10 hours. The salt may crystalize out before the brine is completely dry; if it does not crystalize in the expected time, "seeds" of ordinary salt should be thrown into the pond to hasten the growth and sedimentation of the salt-crystals. Any excess of brine left is drained off or left to continue evaporating to dryness. The salt, left as a thin layer of white crystals on the bottom, is then scraped into piles and carried to the company for storage or for sale.
(See Plates 8 and 9 for illustrations to this article)
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Salt Production at Tai O
These figures are taken from the printed Administrative Reports of the District Officer, Southern District of the New Territories. Details are only available for the years 1910-1939, less 1926-27. The remarks in the right-hand column are direct "quotes" from the Reports.
Year Production Price etc. 1910 No figures Low, with an adverse effect on business of the salt pans; but not specified. 1911 No figures A poor year, owing to the cheapness of salt. 1912 No figures Salt pans proved a financial success. 1913 Total export from all these salt pans was 600 tons. Typhoon of 17 August caused damage to the salt pans. 1914 Now four salt pans working: almost 800 tons exported. Price fell from 80 to 70 cents per picul.* One picul = 1331/3 lbs
Trade bad in the beginning of the year but improved considerably during the latter half. Average price 80 cents per picul.*