Directory_and_Chronicle_1881 — Page 424

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HAKODATE.

This, the most northerly of the treaty ports of Japan, is situated in the south of Yesso on the Straits of Tsugar, which divide that island from Hondo. The port lies in latitude 41 deg. 47 min. 8 sec. N., and longitude 140 deg. 45 min. 34 sec. E., and the harbour is n arly land-locked. The surround.ng country is hilly, volcanic, and picturesque, but the town itself formerly possessed few attractions, and consisted mainly of one long str.et of single-storied houses, the distinguishing feature of which was the roof made of thin wood shingle kept on by quantities of flat stones. The greater part of the town was destroyed by a terrible fire in December, 1879. That disaster was, however, productive of great improvements, and led to the substitution of tiled for wood n roofs, and to the adoption of substantial walls of brick, stone, or other fire proof materials in the buildings. The foreign concession has never been built upon, the few foreign residents in the port having taken up their quarters in Japanese bui dings. A row of fiue temples, with high picturesque roofs, occupying higher ground than the rest of the town, ar: the most conspicuous buildings. The climate of Hakodate is healthy and bracing. The hottest month is August, but the thermometer then rarely rises above 90 degrees Fahr.; in the winter it sometimes sinks to 18 degrees. The mean temperature throughout the year is about 48 degrees.

The foreign tra le of the port is small and has never been important. The foreign shipping is annually decreasing and the direct imports have fallen off largely. The imports for 1877 and 1878 were nil, and for 1879 they only amounted to $4,459 compared with $27,308 in 1876. The exports for 1879 amounted to $692,515 compared with $688,940 in 1878 and $441,655 in 1877. The agricultural resources. of Yesso are rapidly developing under the auspices of the Kaitakushi or Colonization Department. The rich pasture lands are well adapted for breeding cattle. In the valuable and extensive fisheries on the coasts, bowever, the chief exports of the future from Hakodate are to be looked for. Increasing quantities of dried fish and seaweed are exported annually, mostly to China. The mineral resources of Yesso, said to be large, may also some day yield a valuable addition to the exports of this port. Hakodate is connected with the capital by telegraph. The population of the town is about 11,000. The number of foreign residents in 1878 was 72, of whom 35 were Chinese, 20 British, and the remainder German, Russian, American, French, and Danish.

Consulates.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Consul-John J. Quin

DIRECTORY.

Constable-T. B. Anthony

FRANCE.

Consular Agent-John J. Quin

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN MONARCHY. Acting Consul-John J. Quin

DENMARK.

Consul-John H. Dūūs

E

UNITED STATES. Acting Consul-Rev. W. E. Davisson

Insurances.

Howell & Co., agents-

Chinese Insurance Co., Limited North China Insurance Company

Professions and Trades.

Blakiston, Marr & Co., merchants

J. Henson

Dūūs, John H., merchant

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