CO129-570-14 Sino-Japanese War- attack on fishing junk by Japanese sailors 18-5-1938 - 22-12-1938 — Page 25

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Valuation of Junk No.291 HW.

24

1.

The junk was originally ordered to be built either of China Fir or Üregan Pine for a cost of $3,400, but later it was decided to build the side-planking of the junk of teak; the keel was of yacal. This put the cost up to $3,900 which included the hull, keel, tree masts, rudder, caulking, a fish-tank, a water-tank, (both tanks of wood and constructed as part of the ship), and $32 "lucky money". The registered piculage was 1,175 or elnost exactly 70 tons, and the junk was finally launched about July 1936.

By 1940 the hull alone would probably have needed at the most $1,000 worth of repairs and refitting, so I judge the value of the hull when the junk was attached to be about $3,400. 2. The standing rigging cost about $70, and had just been renewed with a set of middle cuality canvas sails that cost $300 including their sheets and halyards. Other rigging, anchor chains, and sundry tackle including a quantity of Manila rope, came to $200. Most of this

except for the semi-permanent items like anchor-chains, had been renewed this year, but allowing a 10 depreciation the value as they stood would be about $640.

3.

Six iron anchors were carried, the heaviest being only 4 piculs. At $12 a picul they were altogether worth $220; there were no wooden anchors.

24. No large nets were carried, as their deep-sea fishing was all done by lines from the six sampans that the junk carried. These six sampans and oars would be worth at the time not less than $120 altogether, and the lines, hooks and floats $600.