CO129-578-5 Development of Whampoa Port 13-12-1938 - 11-5-1939 — Page 26

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be explained by changes in the coney value of an averaje

ton of most commodities. For example, the money value

in dollars of the total export and imports of Canton

for the year 1929 per net registered ton of the vessels

which entered and cleared was 258.40 while in 1936 it

was down to $21.40.

Investigations of the volume of exports and

isports for 1929 compared with 1936 are progress to

discover which commodities have ained or lost in volume

and in unit price.

The future probable tonnage was fixed as a re-

sult of studies of all the major ports of China, on the

basis first, of distance from the sea to each river port

such as Banking) second, of the depth of water (which

limits the size of vessel which can enter the harbour);

and third, or the area, population and natural resources

of the hinterland or area which naturally does business

throu b the port, over comecting water ways, railroada,

and highway

It was demonstrated that the depth of water

has a material influence on the amount of business. It

was also demonstarted that business decreased with

increase or necessary river travel.. Tyls wethod was

found to be so sensitive ab to indicate the effect of

Shanghai's distance from the sea. harpoa's business

will always be influenced by the 50 mile river haul,

but has evidently dominated by the shoals in the river

channels when these are properly dred,od, the Canton-

hampoa ocean and coastal business should be at least

15,000,000 vessel tone per year. Her populous tributary

hinterland should increase this flure to some extent,

compared with any other purts. she should grow to at

least 17,500,000, eventually,

PERTH AHJALTI