1841-1886
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
97
10. Excluding the junk trade, it will be found that 1,951,855 tons of registered shipping arrived in vessels other than Chinese built, 79.84 per cent. of which was brought by steam vessels, and the remaining 20.16 per cent. by sailing vessels of all nations. Of this large percentage of steam over sailing ships, 77.77 per cent. is due to British shipping, 9.60 per cent. to French, 3.81 per cent. to German, and the remainder to vessels under other flags.
11. Large as the proportion of steam shipping is over sailing shipping, it is much greater in fact, as the steamships of the present day carry so much more weight than their registered tonnage gives them credit for; while sailing vessels do not carry much cargo over and above their registered tonnage.
433
12. On the 16th April 1875, the light on Cape d'Aguilar was first lit; it is a first order light, and was seen from the deck of H.M.S. “Hornet" at a distance of 23 miles. Through the kindness of Commodore Parish, R.N., the Surveyor-General and the officers of this Department were enabled to verify the distances at which Cape d'Aguilar and also Green Island lights could be seen; the latter is a fourth order light and was distinctly seen at a distance of 11 miles. Many captains have testified to the value of the two lights, and when Cape Collinson light is exhibited, which it will be shortly, the approaches to Hong Kong will be distinguishable at all hours and in all weather. Cape Collinson would have been lit long since, but that through some mismanagement a part of the apparatus was sent to the Cape of Good Hope.
13. It is satisfactory to report that but one typhoon (south-eastern edge) passed near the Colony in 1875. This was on the 31st May last, and from the sheltered position of the harbour very little damage was done afloat. Macao and the Canton River felt the full force of the storm, and there is one sad shipwreck, that of the "Poyang," to record, with the loss of many lives near Macao.
Junk Trade.
14. There is an increase in the numbers of junks frequenting the port from places on the coast, but there is a decrease on the tonnage, showing that a smaller kind of craft is being used. The junk trade with Macao has decreased by 22,889 tons and 103 vessels. Probably a goodly proportion of the cargoes that would otherwise have been conveyed in native vessels has found its way here in the daily steamers. Macao suffered from two typhoons in two successive years, losing a large number of junks, which have not been and probably never will be replaced.
15. Applications have been made to run steam launches between this place and Namtao, a city on the left or east bank of the Canton River about 27 miles from Hong Kong. Although the proposal has been prominently brought to the notice of the Chinese authorities, as yet permission to run a foreign-built boat into a non-consular port has not been granted.
1841-1886
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
97
10. Excluding the junk trade, it will be found that 1,951,855 tons of registered shipping arrived in vessels other than Chinese built, 79-84 per cent. of which was brought by steam vessels, and the remaining 20.16 per cent. by sailing vessels of all nations. Of this large per-centage of steam over sailing ships, 77-77 pèr cent. is due to British shipping, 9.60 per cent, to French, 3'81 per cent. to German, and the remainder to vessels under other flags.
11. Large as the proportion of steam shipping is over sailing shipping, it is much greater in fact, as the steamships of the present day carry so much more weight than their registered tonnage gives them credit for; while sailing vessels do not carry much cargo over and above their registered tonnage.
433
12. On the 16th April 1875, the light on Cape d'Aguilar was first lit; it is a first order light, and was seen from the deck of H.M.S. “Hornet" at a distance of 23 miles. Through the kind- ness of Commodore Parish, R.N., the Surveyor-General and the officers of this Department were enabled to verify the distances at which Cape d'Aguilar and also Green Island lights could be seen; the latter is a fourth order light and was distinctly seen at a distance of 11 miles. Many captains have testified to the value of the two lights, and when Cape Collinson light is exhibited, which it will be shortly, the approaches to Hong Kong will be distinguishable at all hours and in all weather. Cape Collinson would have been lit long since, but that through some mismanage- ment a part of the apparatus was sent to the Cape of Good Hope. 13. It is satisfactory to report that but one typhoon (south- eastern edge) passed near the Colony in 1875. This was on the 31st May last, and from the sheltered position of the harbour very little damage was done afloat. Macao and the Canton River felt the full force of the storm, and there is one sad shipwreck, that of the "Poyang," to record, with the loss of many lives near
Macao.
Junk Trade.
14. There is an increase in the numbers of junks frequenting the port from places on the coast, but there is a decrease on the ton- nage, showing that a smaller kind of craft is being used. The junk trade with Macao has decreased by 22,889 tons and 103 vessels. Probably a goodly proportion of the cargoes that would otherwise have been conveyed in native vessels has found its way here in the daily steamers. Macao suffered from two typhoons in two successive years, losing a large number of junks, which have not been and probably never will be replaced.
15. Applications have been made to run steam launches between this place and Namtao, a city on the left or east bank of the Can- ton River about 27 miles from Hong Kong. Although the
pro- posal has been prominently brought to the notice of the Chinese authorities, as yet permission to run a foreign built boat into a non-consular port has not beer granted.
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