WENCHOW.
405
Wênchow was formerly a great seat of the tea trade, and previous to 1861 was, it is said by some, the only port in the department from which tea was allowed to be exported. The city was then in a flourishing condition. But in order to prevent the teas from falling into the hands of the T'ai-p'ing rebels, who overran the whole district during that year, this regulation was exchanged for one which authorized the export of tea at any of the Customs stations along the coast; consequently the trade soon gra- vitated to Foochow in the south and to Ningpo in the north. It was thought that on the conversion of Wênchow into a treaty port it would speedily recover its old position as a tea exporting place, but this has not so far proved to be the case, nor has the trade in any way been of a character to meet the expectations formed, although it is estimated that tea could be put on the Wênchow market for $2 per picul less than at Foochow, owing to the higher cost of transport to the latter port. At present there is no foreign settlement, and the foreign residents are a mere handful, consisting almost entirely of officials and missionaries. The obstructive action of the officials in trying to impose additional burdens on imports helped to check the expansion of commerce, and there has so far been little encouragement given to foreigners to establish themselves at the port. A large quantity of native opium is produced in the vicinity of Wenchow. There is a considerable native export trade in wood and bamboos, brought down the river in rafts from Ch'u-chow. The annual value of this trade is estimated to be not less than $2,000,000. The shops and yards engaged in it are situated in the west suburb, where immense quantities of bamboos and poles are kept on hand. Wênchow is also celebrated for its bitter oranges. The net value of the foreign imports for the year 1884 was Tls. 292,344, as against Tls. 272,194 in 1883. The export of Congou Tea has been as follows: 1877, 278 piculs; 1878, 680 piculs; 1879, 728 piculs; 1880, 1,284 piculs; 1881, 619 piculs, 1882, 2,243 piculs, 1883, 754 piculs, and 1884, 1,514 piculs. In 1884, 81 piculs of Opium were imported, as compared with 100 piculs in 1883. The value of the whole trade of the port for 1884 was Tls. 434,391, compared with Tls. 415,394 in 1883.
Consulates.
門衙事領國英大
Consul-W. Gavin Stronach
DIRECTORY.
Ta Ying-kwok ling-sz-nga-mun.
GREAT BRITAIN.
Constable--John Compton
GERMANY.
In charge of Interests-W. G. Stronach
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.
Consul-W. Gavin Stronach
SWEDEN AND NORWAY. In charge W. Gavin Stronach
Imperial Maritime Customs.
Ou Hai-kuan.
Assistant in charge-E. H. Grimani Assistant-D. J. Macgowan
Clerk-Saml. Hanisch
Medical Officer-D. J. Macgowan, M.D.
Chinese Clerk--Wong Kwai Ching
Assistant Examiner-P. Cunniffy
Tidewaiters-G. D. Sharnhorst, F. R.
Martin
CHINA MERCHANTS S. N. Co Chai Lu Tow, shipping agents
Missionaries.
CHINA INLAND MISSION.
Rev. G. and Mrs. Stott
UNATTACHED.
Rev. J. A. Jackson
ENGLISH UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCH MISSION.
Rev. W. E. and Mrs. Soothill
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