48
CHINA.
No. 5.
Sir,
Consul Robertson to Mr. Hammond.--(Received June 1.)
Canton, April 18, 1868.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you my Report on, and the Returns, of the trade at the Port of Canton during the year 1867, duplicates of which I have forwarded to Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin.
I have, &c.
(Signed) D. B. ROBERTSON,
CANTON.
IMPORTS.
Description. 1866 1867 Shirtings, grey Pieces 78,452 112,278 white 47,160 56,817 T-cloths 37,591 71,171 Handkerchiefs Dozens 18,696 33,118 Drills, grey Pieces 5,830 8,160 Flannels and woollens 375 1,083 Habit and medium cloths 2,763 3,375 Lastings ** 3,915 Long ells 4,328 6,200 Spanish stripes 5,988 6,509 Woollen and cotton mixtures 6,589 9,947 Raw cotton, Indian Picnls 150,387 256,866 Yarn 12,056 18,741EXPORTS.
Description. 1866 1867 Tea, black Piculs 74,845 $8,978 green 9,295 14,677 Silk, raw and thrown 9,258 9,272 piece goods 3,997 4,592 ribbons, &c. 624 702 and cotton mixtures 140 199 Sugar 131,574 215,636 Matting Rolls 89,908 91,161Inclosure in No. 5.
Report on the Foreign Trade at the Port of Canton in China during the Year 1867.
THE Returns annexed to this Report are as follows:-
No. 1. Return showing the movements of British vessels arriving at, and departing from, Canton in 1867.
No. 2. Return of British and foreign shipping at Canton in 1867.
No. 3. Return of foreign shipping, do.
No. 4. Foreign trade. Return of imports. exports. imports. exports.
No. 5.
No. 6. Coast trade. No. 7.
The foreign trade at the Port of Canton during the past year (1867) so far justifies former anticipations as to show, in quantities, at least, if not in value, an increase over that of the preceding year, 1866. The former have certainly steadily advanced; the latter is dependent so entirely upon market rates, which are influenced by mercantile buoyancy, depression, or competition, that in no case can it be taken as a test of the healthiness of a trade, or a measure by which to judge of its capabilities.
For instance, the total value of the trade for 1867 may be taken at 39,052,034 dollars, whilst that of 1866 reached 43,211,000 dollars, showing a balance over the former of 4,158,966 dollars: whereas the Returns of the amount of duties collected at the Imperial Foreign Custom-house, and which are levied according to a fixed Tariff rate on quantities and not on values, show in 1866 a total of 889,479 taels, and in 1867 a total of 934,774 taels being an increase of 45,295 taels in the collection of 1867, and, consequently, representing a proportionate increase in quantities of either imports or exports, although the aggregate market value is less.
But it must be remembered that there is a difference between the "total" and the "actual" trade of a port. The one represents the whole of the imports, exports, and treasure; and the other, what remains after deducting the re-exports.
For instance, say the total value of the trade at the Port of Canton was, for the year 1867, 39,052,034 dollars, made up as follows:--
Dollars. IMPORTS. Foreign trade 10,475,694 Coast trade 3,614,887 Treasure 2,325,373 Total 16,415,954 EXPORTS. Foreign trade 14,069,858 Coast trade 4,333,296 Treasure. 4,232,926 Total 22,636,080 Total trade 39,052,034But as some of the articles in this aggregate were in transitu, their value should be deducted if the true trade, or, in other words, the consumption of the port is to be arrived at as follows:
Dollars. Total trade 39,052,034 Re-exports-Goods 43,496 Treasure 4,232,926 Total 4,276,422 Total value of trade.. 34,775,612Page 49
442
48
CHINA.
No. 5.
Sir,
Consul Robertson to Mr. Hammond.--(Received June 1.)
Canton, April 18, 1868.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you my Report on, and the Returns, of the trade at the Port of Canton during the year 1867, duplicates of which I have forwarded to Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin.
I have, &c.
(Signed) D. B. ROBERTSON,
Handkerchiefs
Drills, grey
CANTON.
IMPORTS.
Description.
1866,
1867.
Shirtings, grey
Pieces
78,452 112,278
white
47.160 56,817
T-cloths
37,591
71,171
Dozens
18,696
33,118
Pieces
5,830
8,160
Flannels and woollens
375
1,083
Habit and medium cloths
2,763
3,375
Lastings
**
3,915
4,328
Long ells
4,509
6,200
Spanish stripes
5,988
6,509
Woollen and cotton mixtures
6,589
9,947
Raw cotton, Indian
Picnls
150,387 256,866
12,056
18,741
Inclosure in No. 5.
Report on the Foreign Trade at the Port of Canton in China during the Year 1867.
THE Returns annexed to this Report are as follows:-
No. 1. Return showing the movements of British vessels arriving at,
and departing from, Canton in 1867.
No. 2. Return of British and foreign shipping at Canton în 1867.
No. 3. Return of foreign shipping, do.
No. 4. Foreign trade.
Return of imports.
exports.
imports. exporta.
No. 5.
No. 6. Coast trade. No. 7.
+3
+
Yarn
Tea, black
,, green
1
Silk, raw and thrown
piece goods
34
ribbons, &c.
and cotton mixtures
Sugar
Matting
EXPORTS.
Description.
1866.
1867.
Piculs
74,845
$8,978
9.295
14,677
9.258
9,272
3.997
4,592
624
702
140
199
131,574
215,636
No. 8. Comparative statement of some of the principal articles of import from 1862 to 1867 inclusive.
33
No. 9.
of export from 1862 to 1867 inclusive. The foreign trade at the Port of Canton during the past year (1867) so far justifies former anticipations as to show, in quantities, at least, if not in value, an increase over that of the preceding year, 1866. The former have certainly steadily advanced; the latter is dependent so entirely upon market rates, which are influenced by mercantile buoyancy, depres- sion, or competition, that in no case can it be taken as a test of the healthiness of a trade, or a measure by which to judge of its capabilities. For instance, the total value of the trade for 1867 may be taken at 39,052,034 dollars, whilst that of 1866 reached 43,211,000 dollars, show- ing a balance over the former of 4,158,966 dollars: whereas the Returns of the amount of duties collected at the Imperial Foreign Custom-house, and which are levied according to a fixed Tariff rate on quantities and not on values, show in 1866 a total of 889,479 taels, and in 1867 a total of 934,774 taels being an increase of 45,295 taels in the collection of 1867, and, consequently, representing a proportionate increase in quantities of either imports or exports, although the aggregate market value is less. This comparison of the two columns in the following Table will show :-----
Rolls
89,908 91,161
But it must be remembered that there is a difference between the "total" and the "actual" trade of a port. The one represents the whole
of the imports, exports, and treasure; and the other, what remains after deducting the re-exports. For instance, say the total value of the trade at the Port of Canton was, for the year 1867, 39,052,034 dollars, made up as follows:--
IMFORTS.
Foreign trade Coast trade Treasure
Dollars. 10,475,694 3,614,887 2,325,373
Dollars.
Total
16,415,954
EXPORTS.
14,069,858 4,333,296
4,232,926
22,636,080
39,052,034
Foreign trade Coast trade Treasure.
Total
Total trade
But as some of the articles in this aggregate were in transitu, their value should be deducted if the true trade, or, in other words, the consumption of the port is to be arrived at as follows :---
Total trade Re-exports-Goods
Dollars.
Dollars.
39,052,034
43,496
Treasure
75
4,232,926
4,276,422
Total value of trade..
34,775,612
(76)
E
49
442
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