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North of China. To this spirit are added various drugs and the mixture is used as a tonic.
There are seven Chinese distilleries exclusive of the village distilleries in the New Territories which have an annual output of some 300,000 gallons, about one-tenth of which is exported.
Vests and Socks.-There are three small factories for the making of underwear and socks, and a fourth is shortly to open. This industry appears by now to be an established one. The first factory was opened five years ago, has increased the number of machines, and is now beginning to pay its way.
Hides and Leather.-There are seven or eight tanneries where an inferior kind of leather is manufactured. Gall-nuts from Japan are used in the manufacture. The greater part of the hides that reach Hongkong from the interior is sent to the Straits Settlements where suitable bark can be procured, to be tanned, and sent back to Hongkong as leather. There is an occasional export of hides by local dealers to Italy.
Preserved Ginger.-Canton has long been noted for its preserved ginger. The manufacture has now been transferred to Hongkong where there are a number of factories, three of which do a large export business.
Soy. Soy is a sauce made by boiling the beans of the "Glycine hispida, Maxim", adding an equal quantity of wheat or barley and leaving the mass to ferment. A layer of salt and three times as much water as beans are afterwards added, and the whole compound stirred daily for two months when the liquid is pressed and strained. Seven or eight Chinese factories are engaged in the manufacture of soy in Hongkong, and three firms export it to Europe. It is also exported to America. The wholesale price is about $20 the cask of 700 lb. Business during the year has been dull.
Paper. There is one paper mill capable of turning out 9,000 lb. of paper in 24 hours. At present only half the machinery is used and about 100 men are employed. The mill is lighted by electricity. Most of the paper is exported to China: a little goes to the Straits Settlements and elsewhere to the South. The rags are collected from all over South China: the other materials are imported from England.
Vermilion.-There are three vermilion factories. Their average annual output is stated to be about 830 piculs. There is a demand for the vermilion all over the Far East from Japan to Calcutta. This business is falling off owing probably to the primitive methods of manufacture.
Lard. There are seven lard factories in existence-the largest turning out about 60,000 piculs a year and the remaining six about 12,000. The lard is exported to the Philippines, the Straits Settlements, etc., and to Rangoon. Business during the year showed no increase.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deepsea fishing, in which pursuit a large number
11
North of China. To this spirit are added various drugs and the mixture is used as a tonic.
There are seven Chinese distilleries exclusive of the village distilleries in the New Territories which have an annual output of some 300,000 gallons, about one-tenth of which is exported.
Vests and Socks.-There are three small factories for the making of underwear and socks, and a fourth is shortly to open. This in- dustry appears by now to be an established one. The first factory was opened five years ago, has increased the number of machines. and is now beginning to pay its way.
Hides and Leather.-There are seven or eight tanneries where an inferior kind of leather is manufactured. Gall-nuts from Japan are used in the manufacture. The greater part of the hides that reach Hongkong from the interior is sent to the Straits Settle- ments where suitable bark can be procured, to be tanned, and sent back to Hongkong as leather. There is an occasional export of hides by local dealers to Italy.
Preserved Ginger.-Canton has long been noted for its preserved ginger. The manufacture has now been transferred to Hongkong where there are a number of factories, three of which do a large export business.
Soy. Soy is a sauce made by boiling the beans of the "Glycine hispida, Maxim", adding an equal quantity of wheat or barley and leaving the mass to ferment. A layer of salt and three times as much water as beans are afterwards added, and the whole compound stirred daily for two months when the liquid is pressed and strained. Seven or eight Chinese factories are engaged in the manufacture of soy in Hongkong, and three firms export it to Europe. It is also exported to America. The wholesale price is about $20 the cask of 700 lb. Business during the year has been dull.
Paper. There is one paper mill capable of turning out 9,000 lb. of paper in 24 hours. At present only half the machinery is used and about 100 men are employed. The mill is lighted by electricity. Most of the paper is exported to China: a little goes to the Straits Settlements and elsewhere to the South. The rags are collected from all over South China: the other materials are imported from England.
Vermilion.-There are three vermilion factories. Their average annual output is stated to be about 830 piculs. There is a demand for the vermilion all over the Far East from Japan to Calcutta. This business is falling off owing probably to the primitive methods of manufacture.
Lard. There are seven lard factories in existence-the largest turning out about 60,000 piculs a year and the remaining six about 12,000. The lard is exported to the Philippines, the Straits Settle- ments, etc., and to Rangoon. Business during the year showed no increase.
(c.) FISHERIES.
A considerable proportion of the boat-population of Hongkong supports itself by deepsea fishing, in which pursuit a large number
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