}
398
8
China might obtain a loan for such sum, and that the interest on the same should** form part of the 9,200,000 tacls to be provided.
Appointment of M. de Rijke.
26. After the creation of the Conservancy Board as finally constituted in 1905, M. Johannes de Rijke was invited by the board (acting for the Peking Government) to undertake the duties of engineer-in-chief for the purpose of carrying out the necessary improvements in the river. The appointment of the officer to occupy this position had, under the convention, to be approved by the foreign representatives, and M. de Rijke was adopted by them as having a large experience of river problems and as possessing considerable knowledge of the Whangpoo River.
III-THE TRADE OF SHANGHAI.
27. It will be of advantage if we here give some statistics showing the great extent of the trade of Shanghai, from which will be apparent the paramount importance to the city, of maintaining a good channel from the sca, for the accommodation of ocean going vessels.
28. The following figures were kindly complied for us, from the official returns of the Imperial customs, by the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.
TOTAL Collection of Dues and Duties by the Imperial Maritime Customs for the years 1903-8 inclusive,
1903
1904
1905
1906
1007
1908
Haikwan Taels.
9,924,890
10,328.433
12,080,135
12,823,817
11,007,454
9,613,526
TONNAGE Dues only collected by the Imperial Maritime Customs for the years 1903-8 inclusive.
1903
1904
1905
1900
1907
1908
Haikwan Taels.
603,997
666,381
712,275
895,801
897,914
816,855
We may here remark that, at the commencement of the year, the value of the Haikwan taels was about 2s. 8d.
TOTAL Number and Tonnage of Vessels Entered and Cleared at the Imperial
1903 1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
::::::
Customs, 1903-8.
STEAMERS and Sailing-vessels Entered.
No.
4,677 4,711
Tonnage.
6,179,554 6,076,279
27,316
7,692,207
26,032
8,550,508
24,104
22,255
6,668,541 8,769,348
::::::
::::::
STEAMERS and Sailing-vessels Cleared.
::::::
No.
4.553
4,728
Tonnage.
6,162,891 6,105,519
35,765
7,887,103
35,787
8,816,454
34,900
2,973,434
$2,588
9,048,566
+
9
28. From 1905 are included in the above table the number and tonnage of the inward steamers, towed passenger boats, and cargo junks.
In addition to the foregoing there are, on the average, 5,000 junks entered and cleared yearly at the native customs, besides about 700 steam launches running between Kiangpeh and Chepiang to Shanghai, the yearly tonnage amounting to about 150,000 tons entered and cleared.
IV. TOPOGRAPHY OF THE RIVER, WITH FORMER OBSTRUCTIONS TO NAVIGATION.
30. The principal defects in the river, working upwards from the mouth, before the inception of the training works, were generally as follows:--
Outer Bar
31. At the confluence of the Whangpoo with the Yang-tsze a bar, known as the Outer Bar, had always existed in a greater or less degree, subject to variations from time to time both in extent and in the depth of water available over it.
32. As will be apparent upon reference to drawing No. 2, the tidal currents naturally followed for some distance from the Outer Bar the western or Woosung shore, which is concave, but a portion of the flood current making up the Yang-tsze has always had a tendency to open a second channel on the opposite shore. At times such a channel has actually been formed, and on these occasions the main deep-water channel has considerably deteriorated. As an example of this action, it appears from a comparison of charts of different dates, that in 1871 there was a single channel only on the western, or Woosung, side of the entrance, having a minimum depth of 22 feet at low water, whereas in 1877 there were two channels, the greater available depth being 15 feet. Generally, however, there has been a single deep-water channel near the left bank, with an extensive area of shoal water extending from the right or southern shore,
Pheasant Paint.
33. About 2 miles above Woosung Forts, the river makes a turn around a promontory called Pheasant Point, from which a large shoal extends outwards, thus considerably reducing the width of the river. This conformation tends to diminish the inflow of tidal water-a matter of great moment with regard to the tidal development in the upper reaches of the river.
Gough Island Reach,
34. Almost immediately above Pheasant Point, and about 2 miles from Woosung Forts, the Whangpoo divides into two branches, passing respectively to the north- east and south-west of Gough Island, reuniting above the latter a little below Kajow Creek. The channel to the northward and eastward of Gough Island, has hitherto been known as "Ship" Channel, from the fact that until the works which have been recently carried out had considerably advanced, it was the main navigable channel to and from Shanghai; whilst the wider channel passing to the southward and westward
Channel. of Gough Island, in which there was less depth, was known as "Junk
"
35. M. de Rijke determined to improve and develop the Junk Channel, and it is in connection with this decision that most of the criticism of his proposals has been based. This important question will, however, receive due consideration at a later period herein.
Inner Bar.
36. Where Ship Channel joined Junk Channel at the lower end of Gough Island, a bar called the Woosung Inner Bar, existed for many years across the first-named channel, and formed a great impediment to navigation. Up to the year 1843, no mention was made of any Inner Bar, and the first authentic record of the depth upon it was in 1856, when Lieutenant Bable, United States navy, stated that "the depth of water on the Outer Bar at the lowest spring tide is 24 feet, and on the bar above Woosung it is about 12 feet." From a paper prepared by Captain Bisbee, coast inspector, recording the results of observations made by him during the period 1872- 1893, it also appeared that the depth of water over this Inner Bar was constantly fluctuating, the least recorded depths at spring tides being 6 ft. 9 in. in September
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