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Hongkong boats, used in the harbour, for local purposes, are for strictly-
The first class, which I have denominated "Regular Traders", includes all passenger boats plying between this Colony and Chinese Ports, and trading junks owned or partly owned by residents in this Colony, whose arrival and departure can be calculated upon with a certainty similar to that of the coasting vessels of England. In the latter class the salt junks, engaged in importing salt, and others in exporting, or smuggling, may be considered.
Considering first in point of importance, the capital employed and the number of persons of wealth who are interested in the trade. The boats which supply the Colony with provisions may be next considered; they are more numerous than the salt junks, but usually small, and differently constructed: the largest number of these boats come from Heung-shan on the borders of Fuh-keen, supplying the markets with pigs, poultry, eggs.
Macao boats furnish vegetables, particularly potatoes and fruit of every description, which is offered for sale here, and on the opposite coast. Tuen-on sends fresh fish and all the coarser kinds of vegetables, such as Taro, Sweet potatoes, yams, etc. Boats bringing stone, bricks, tiles, timber, lime, and other materials for building purposes, at a former period were pretty numerous, but for some time back private individuals having completed their buildings, the demand has been comparatively small, and the boats employed in the trade have gradually decreased.
The passage boats, usually called "fast boats", are built and constructed to afford a good accommodation for passengers, and enable them at the same time to carry cargo and luggage; their sailing qualities are also considered, the Chinese invariably, when travelling, giving the preference to the fastest sailer. A certain number of these boats ply regularly between Victoria and the different small ports in the vicinity, to the eastward and westward, as also up and down the harbour.