:
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1879, and 6 ft. 3 in. in December 1892. The greatest depth was given as 14 feet in April 1890, the average of the annual maximum depths over the whole period being 11 ft. 3 in., and 9 ft. 1 in., these occurring in April and September respectively in each year. It will be noticed that the least depth occurs in the autumn, after the Yang-tsze floods, and the greatest depth in spring, when that river is low. The depths above recorded refer to Customs datum, which as already stated, is 2 feet below Conservancy datum.
37. The effect of Pheasant Point, taken in conjunction with the sharp bend into the Ship Channel, was a serious drawback to navigation during the time that the latter channel was the main navigable course, inasmuch as the flood tide naturally clung to the Woosung shore for some distance past the turn into the Ship Channel, and consequently vessels attempting to enter this channel were sometimes swung round by the current acting on their port quarter and driven ashore either on Pheasant Point or on the flats below Gough Island. Captain Gregor and Captain Evans, in the interviews which we had with them there, both laid great stress on the difficulties experienced at this turn when the Ship Channel was the main river
course.
Point Bank.
38. Still proceeding upwards, the next defect in the river to which attention should be directed is the wide reach between Black Point and [] Point, where the difference in direction of the flood and ebb currents has led to the formation on the left side of the river of a bank of considerable extent, covered at low water, and having a shallow, partially formed channel in-shore used by small craft. Throughout this reach, however, there has existed for many years a well-defined main channel near the right bank of the river, and it cannot be said that the condition of the stream here is such at present as to give rise to anxiety, although it is manifestly desirable that the flood and ebb currents should be directed over the same course.
Pootung Point.
39. From the last-named reach to Shanghai, where there is a very sharp turn at Pootung Point, the river may be said to be generally in a satisfactory condition. In the neighbourhood of Pootung Point there has always been, at certain periods of the tide, a considerable area of chow-chow" water, i.e., strong whirlpool eddies, due to the sharp bend in the river and the confluence of the Soochow Creek, which here joins the main stream on the left bank.
40. The depth of water opposite Pootung Point is very great, reaching at one spot to upwards of 100 feet below low water, but there does not appear, as might have been expected, to be any tendency to scour alongside the wharves and buildings on the concave shore. On the other hand, dredging has to be resorted to in order to maintain sufficient water alongside the Hongkow wharves, on the left bank immediately below Soochow Creek.
41. The sharp bend in the river at this point, besides exercising an injurious influence on the tidal development, is especially unfortunate, inasmuch as it occurs in the centre of the most crowded part of the harbour, necessitating great care in navigating vessels to their berths through the mass of European and native shipping.
Bank at Native City.
42. The presence of a very considerable mud flat on the left bank of the river, for the most part dry at low water, along the front of the Chinese city (see drawing No. 1), constitutes another serious obstacle to the tidal flow of the Whangpoo, which is aggravated by there being at all times an immense fleet of junks and small craft lying on or near the left bank.
43. This evil is a growing one, for the bank is being increasingly used as a site for storing timber and as a general deposit ground for the refuse and garbage of the native city, which has approximately a population of 1,000,000. On this site is also permanently located an immense number of "beggar boats " used as dwellings by the poorest class of Chinese, the people inhabiting these boats being estimated at many thousands. The entire refuse from this population is thrown overboard from the boats into the river, or on the mud hank, thus further obstructing the river flow and increasing the general insanitation of the locality.
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Abone the Native City.
44. Above the native city the condition of the river rapidly improves, and after a few miles becomes excellent, the reaches being broad, deep, and straight, with easy turns and strong banks. In place, however, injury is caused by the reckless throwing of waste materials of all kinds into the stream, and by the obstruction of fishing stakes and water-nut plantations, but, speaking generally, it may be said that the main channel of the river above the Chinese city is satisfactory in its present condition, and that no remedial works in connection therewith are necessary.
Subsidiary Creeks.
45. The condition of the subsidiary creeks connecting with the Whangpoo has an intimate bearing on the régime of the main river. From our information it appears that they are very much obstructed in the manner mentioned in the last paragraph, and also, in many cases where there are bridges, by banks being projected from the sides with a view to reducing the width to be spanned. A very serious check is thus given to the amount of tidal water passing to and fro. It is too much to say that, in any instances, these creeks would probably have closed altogether had it not been for the practice of the agriculturists of digging out the bottoms of the crecks to form a dressing for the fields.
V. PREVIOUS REPORTS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WHANGPOO RIVER,
46. The vital necessity of maintaining the Whangpoo in a good navigable condition has for many years, as we have already explained, been urged in the strongest manner by the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, and at various times reports have been procured by the chamber and other bodies with regard to schemes most likely to effect the required result. Other reports have also been prepared by various persons for particular interests. In addition to such reports general criticisms have at frequent intervals been passed on the schemes and more particularly on the recommendations of M. de Rijke.
Report of 1876.
47. The first reports to which reference need be made by us are those prepared by M. G. A. Escher and M. J. de Rikje in 1876, addressed to the members of the consular body of Shanghai. These reports, which should be considered together, consist of a joint report by both engineers on the Woosung Inner Bar, and two separate reports upon the best method of dealing with it, M. Escher favouring the improvement of the Ship Channel-at that time the navigable track-whilst M. de Rikje preferred the opening out of Junk Channel for deep-water navigation.
Report of 1898.
48. Nothing was done to improve the condition of the river, as a result of these reports, with the exception of an ineffectual attempt, between 1888 and 1891, to deepen the inner bar by dredging. At the invitation of the Chamber of Commerce, however, M. de Rijke, in 1897, again visited Shanghai, and in January 1898 presented his second report upon the river.
49. In this last-named report M. de Rijke showed, in considerable detail, that the river had deteriorated since his previous visit in 1875, and strongly urged the great importance of immediately carrying out works for the improvement and regulation of the river, if an efficient waterway to Shanghai was to be maintained. This report was the last prepared by M. de Rijke, and it was on the lines then recommended that the works which were commenced in 1907 were carried out.
50. It may be stated generally that M. de Rijke proposed to confine the Whangpoo to one channel throughout its entire course from Shanghai to the Yang-tsze, by means of training and regulating works which he described, and that he again selected for improvement the Junk Channel. The cost of the necessary works was approximately estimated by M. de Rijke at 3,000,000 taels. He pointed out, however, that a proper survey of the river was essential before a reliable estimate could be prepared.
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