1841-1886
139
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 129.
The following table will show what numbers of marine junks have entered the Port of Victoria during the eight latter months of the year 1849. No sufficient reason can be assigned for their increase or decrease during particular months. In
May there arrived
June
July
August
September
Junks.
122
99
55
65
91
October there arrived November December
Junk,
92.
98
50
Total
578
3. Salt junks :-The imports and sales of salt, and the exports of stone, are ascertained from monthly returns sent in by the chief monopolists of these two branches of trade, At the commencement of the year there was a very large quantity of salt in hand, The imports amounted to 335,350 piculs, in 334 junks, the sales to 342,850 piculs, a surplus of 1,050 remaining unsold.
SALT.
Junks.
Importeil.
Sold.
1849.
January. 40 42,350 46,000 February 37 23,100 30,000 March 30 22,950 27,050 April 28 22,200 26,600 May 38 29,700 29,300 June. 21 15,000 13,500 July. 18 17,000 6,000 August. 10 4,300 3,500 September 29 22,600 24,000 October 61 45,800 45,000 November 50 47,350 48,000 December 54 42,950 43,000 Total 334 335,350 342,8504. Stone boats :-Stone was carried from the quarries of the colony in 482 boats, viz., in
January 30 February 30 March 60 April 32 May 65 June 35 July 30 August 30. September 20 October 88 November 60 December 30 Total 482It is much to be doubted that these last carry away anything but the stone slabs with which they are freighted.
Mr. Gutzlaff's Annual Report for 1848 gives 777 as their total, while there have been this year but 182.
The salt boats are large, well manned, and the property of people of some capital; it is consequently probable that they export both opium and manufactured goods. In 1848 the highest number that arrived here in any one month was 52, the lowest 31. There have been here in 1849 as many as 61 in a month, but in August there were as few as 10. At this time piracy, it will be remembered, was a general cause of alarm. The quantities imported have however increased. Mr. Gutzlaff records 297,050 piculs as the total imported in 1848 in 524 junks, the largest quantity in any one month being 41,150 piculs. In 1849, although there were but 334 junks, they imported 335,350 piculs, and in November the amount was as much as 47,350.
The marine trade of 1848 is stated in the same report to have averaged 80 junks a month. In 1849, as has been admitted, there are no records for the first four months, but in the succeeding eight, 578 gives an average of 72, and the agitation of the Canton question in the earlier part of the year, and the piracy, in a great measure suppressed in the autumn, may be deemed to have somewhat affected the commerce of such craft.
As compared with 1848, the junk trade of 1849 was as follows :—
Junks and Cargoes. 1848 1849 Increase. Decrease. Marine: average per mens. 80 72 8 Salt Junks. 524 334 190 Imported, piculs, salt 297,050 335,350 38,300 Most in one mouth 41,150 47,350 6,200 Stone junks 777 482 295(True copy.)
(Signed)
W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.
T. WADE, Assistant Chinese Secretary.