Directory_and_Chronicle_1890 — Page 559

SHANGHAI.

147

Mexican dollars and copper cash. There are seven foreign and numerous native banks in the Settlement.

Shanghai is the great emporium for the trade of the Yangtze and Northern ports, and to a considerable extent for Japan and Corea. The export of Tea from 1846 to 1850 averagel sixteen million pounds, and Silk during the same period seven- teen thousand bales. The total import and export trade of 1863 was sixty-five milli on taels. It steadily increased each year until 1831, when it reached Hk. Tis. 141,921,357 but afterwards showed a great decline, the total for 1831 having been twenty per cent. less than that of 1831. It has since, however, shewn a rapid recovery, the total trale in foreign bottoms, import and export, for the year 1833, as given by the Custom Statistical Department, being Hikwan Tls. 146,917,845, equal to, at Ex. 1.5 4, Mox. $225,253,432, or at Ex. 43. 831., slightly over thirty-four and a half millions ster- ling, an increase of 6.23 per cent. on the previous year, which was Hk. Tis. 133,234,600, equal to, at Ex. 1.51, Mx: 212,831,231, or at Ex. 4s. 101d., over thirty-three ani a half millions sterling. This was in spite of the rapid an I heavy fall in silver, which necessarily restrictel business. The value of foreigu Opium imported was about the same as in 1887 but for several years previously there has been a falling off, owing to increased production of and demand for native opium, the quality of which is now much superior to what it formerly was. The import in 1881 was 51,532 chests, which gradually declined to 36,003 chests in 1888. There was a falling off in the export of Black Tea of 15,225 piculs.compared with 1887, and in Green Tea an increase of 23,143 piculs. The export of Silk amounted to 48,653 piculs and 51,363 piculs waste, etc., against 41.752 piculs and 55,744 piculs waste, etc. the previous year, The import trade in Foreign Goods for 1838 may be summarised as follows:---

From Great Britain

From Hongkong .

From India

From Japan

From United States

From Continent of Europe...

Tls. 29,966,813 | From Straits

1

17,957,687 | From British America

6,611,339 From Chinese Ports

5,232,000

3,121,885

Tls. 1,315,393

891,702

227,990

From other Countries

240,457

Hk. Tls. 68,661,533

3,096,267

Of this amount to the value of Haikwan Tis. 45,378,934 was re-exported, namely to the Yangtsze ports Hk. Tls. 20,492,540, to the Northern ports Hk. Tls. 16,460,889, to Ningpo and Southern ports Hk. Tls. 6,568,826, to Japan Hk. Tls. 767,620, to Hongkong Hk. Tls. 380,055, to Corea 268,359, to Great Britain Hk. Tls. 193,346, to Russia Manchuria Hk. Tls. 178,918, and to other Foreign Countries Hk. Tls. 68,381, leaving a balance for local consumption and stock of Hk. Tls. 23,282,599.

The following were the values of the principal classes of goods imported:-

Cotton Goods. Tls. 32,125,790 Matebes

Opium

•

Metals...

14,409,295 Sandalwood

4,678,067 Ginseng

Woollen Goods... 4,081,934 Machinery

Kerosine Oil...

Coal

Seaweed

Dyes, Aniline

Pepper

...

Birds' Nests

Timber

+

Biche de Mer

1,618,873 Needles

A

1,615,641 Sharks' Fins 820,160 | Mushrooms 771,830 Wine

437,113 Clock & Watches 388,773 Umbrellas

384,833 Hides and Horns 359,203 Braid ...

¡

Tls. 329,415 | Wood

Tis. 154,401

153,971

326,602 Leather 318,197 Soap and Perfumery. 150,520 285,835 Window & Plate Glass 149,725

249,662 Brass Buttons

147,395

226,831 Chinaware...

129,133

209,858 | Cardamoms

128,871

...

125,941

124,096 2,847,466

200,687 | Isinglass

196.980 Sugar 190,982 Sundries 165,139

154,031

Hk. Tls. 68,661,533

Imports to the value of Tls. 1,639,410 were sent to the interior under Transit Passes; Metals, Kerosine, and Coal being the principal articles thus conveyed. The imports in foreign bottoms of native proluce not re-exported amounted to Hk. Tls. 6,189,135.