เ
'
552
be sufficient to prevent the caissons from shifting
position for a considerable term of years. In explaining this matter also I am handicapped by my
lack of technical knowledge and by not having actually
seen the works and I must therefore beg to have my de scription leniently judged in case I have not made myself clear. I understand that this breakwater is
somewhat in the nature of an experiment and that though the work will probably serve its purpose for a time, it is uncertain whether it will remain permanently effective.
I believe that, apart from the sugar trade, Takow
is intended to play an important part in the great trade with the south Seas that Japan hopes to build up. As regards shipping facilities, there is at present the regular Osaka Shosen Kaisha monthly service from Japan to Java ports, calling on the out- ward trip at Keelung, Takow, Manila, Sandakan, Batavia and Soarabaya and on the return trip at Macassar, Sandakan, Hongkong, Takow, Keelung and Kobe. This line is served by the "soerabaya Maru", "Toen
Maru" and "Batavia Maru" and calls are sometimes made at Tawao, British North Borneo on the outward
voyage. In addition to the above, the Osaka Shosen
Kaisha sends the "Umman Maru", 'Shisen Maru", "Tsuru Maru" and "Tenno Maru" into Takow at regular intervals en route to the South Seas. A regular bi-monthly
service is maintained by the same Company from Takow to Dairen via Keelung, Foo chow, Shanghai, Tsingtau and Tientzin ("Keelung Maru" and "Kohoku Maru") and a monthly sailing to Canton via Amby, Swatow and Hongkong
(Soshu