10
JAPAN
class cruisers of over 3,000 tons each, 12 fourth-class cruisers of over 1,500 tons each, 3 torpedo gunboats of 1,200 tons each, 1 torpedo depôt-ship of 6,750 tons, 11 torpedo- boat destroyers, 115 torpedo-boats, 25 gunboats, sloops, &c. The battle ships Fuji and Yashima, built in England, arrived in Japan in the latter part of 1897. The Fuji is somewhat after the Royal Sovereign type; she has a displacement of 12,450 tons and engines of 14,000 horse-power, and carries a powerful armament. Acting on the ex- perience gained at the engagement at Yalu, especially of the disastrous effects of shell fire from machine guns, metal has been substituted for wood wherever possible, even in the light cabin and seamen's quarters fittings; and there are armoured screens everywhere. There are two barbettes plated with 14 in. armour, a conning tower forward also 14 in. thick, and the director tower aft 3 in. thick. The deck is armoured all over, terminating in a formidable ram at the bows, the best Harveyed armour being used in construction. The Yashima is a sister ship to the Fuji.
POPULATION, TRADE, AND INDUSTRY.
The total area of Japan, exclusive of Formosa, is estimated at 156,604 square miles, and the population, according to census returns taken in December, 1891, was 40,718,677, namely, 20,563,416 males and 20,155,261 females. The increase during the last ten years has slightly exceeded one per cent. per annum. The empire is geographically divided into the four islands: Honshiu, the central and most important territory: Kiushiu, nine provinces," the south-western island; Shikoku, the four provinces,” the southern island; and Yezo, the most northerly and least developeil. The former three islands are sub-divided into eight large roads, containing sixty-six provinces, and the latter (Yezo or Hokkaido) is divided into eleven provinces. Administratively, as before mentioned, the Empire is divided into fu and kên, each ken containing more than one province.
The total value of the foreign trade for the last six years was:-
1891 Exports, Yen 79,527,272 Imports, 62,927,268
Total
"
1892 91,102,754
71,326,079
1893 89,712,864
1894
1895
1896 113,216,086 136,112,178 117,842,761 88,257,172 117,481,955 129,260,578 171,674,474
289,517,235
,, 142,454,540 162,428,833 177,970,036 230,728,041 265,372,766 The export of Raw Silk increased from 2,110,315 catties in 1890 to 5,810,046 in 1895, but fell to 3,918,994 catties in 1896. The export of Tea varied little during late years and amounted to 38,826,661 catties in 1895, but declined to 33,241,472 catties in 1896. The export of Coal and Coal Dust in 1896 was 1,614,724 tons and 579.688 tons for ships' use, against 1,376,068 tons and 468,747 tons for ships use in 1895, an increase of 19 per cent. in quantity and 16 per cent. in value over that of 1895, which was about the same in amount and value as for the three previous years. The export of Matches has steadily increased. It was 17,979,849 gross in 1896, against 16,914,027 gross in 1895, and 13,843,022 in 1894.
Of Imports, Raw Cotton increased from 52,141,752 catties in 1890 to 155,152,728 in 1895, and to 176,555,051 in 1896; showing the rapid progress the country is making in supplying herself with the manufactured goods she requires; the erection of mills being of course greatly stimulated by the appreciation of gold, 15,942,797 catties of Cotton Yarn were imported in 1894, 14,591,083 in 1895, and 20,014,128 in 1896. There has been a continuous increase in the importation of Cotton Piece Goods, the values being yen 4,789,240 in 1892, yen 5,795,015 in 1893, yen 7,069,694 in 1894, yen 7,224,288 in 1895, and yen 11,783,944 in 1896. Woollen Goods were imported to the value of yen 6,988,164 in 1892, yen 8,304,240 in 1893, yen 7,982,582 in 1894, yen
12,780,326 in 1895, and yen 20,213,010 in 1896, the value in the latter year being an increase of 58 per cent. over that of its predecessor, which was 60 per cent. more than that of 1894. Metals increased from yen 6,792,024 in 1893, to yen 10,932,716 in 1894, to yen 13,106,026 in 1895, and to yen 18.421,317 in 1896. The importation of Kerosine Oil rose from 32,689,275 gallons in 1892, to 55,643,719 in 1894, but fell to 44,152,414 in 1895, and rose again to 54,692,986 gallons in 1896. Sugar imported showed a steady increase from 167,531,523 catties in 1891 to 248,322,039 catties in 1895, and 233,352,777 in 1896.
The trade of 1896 was divided between the Treaty Ports as under :-
Yokohama Kobe Nagasaki Osaka Hakodate Other Ports Totals Exports, Yen 61,696,108 40,317,817 4,948,029 1,141,326 898,707 8,840,774 117,842,761 Imports, 72,803,799 82,546,593 10,024,383 4,213,791 330,716 1,755,192 171,674,474
Totals,
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,, 134,499,907 122,864,410 14,972,412 5,355,117 1,229,423 10,595,966 289,517,235
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