Directory_and_Chronicle_1901 — Page 513

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YOKOHAMA-HAKODATE

INSURANCE OFFICES--Continued

OFFICES

Transatlantic Marine Insurance, Berlin

Transatlantische Feuer Vers. Actien Ges., Hamburg

Triton Insurance Company

Underwriting Agency Association, Limited Union Assurance Society..

Union Insurance Society

Union Insurance Society of Canton... Union Marine Insurance Company Union Marine Insurance Company United Dutch Marine Insurance Companies United Swiss Marine Insurance Companies Vers. Ges. Oesterrischischer Phönix, Wien World Marine Insurance Company, Limited Württembergische Transport Versicherungs Ges. Yangtsze Insurance Association

AGENTS

C. Weinberger & Co C, Illies & Co.

Jardine, Matheson & Co. Cornes & Co. Flint Kilby & Co. J. Johnstone

A. J. Easton, agent Findlay, Richardson & Co. Kingdon, Schwabe & Co. Dodwell & Co., Ltd. Kingdon, Schwabe & Co. Carl Rohde & Co. Hutchison & Co. Carl Rohde & Co. J. Johnstone

HAKODATE

This, the most northerly of the treaty ports of Japan, is situated in the south of Yezo in the Straits of Tsugaru, which divide that island from Honshiu. 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 nearly land-locked. The town clusters at the foot and on the slope of a bold rock known to foreigners as Hakodate Head, 1,106 feet in height. The surrounding country is billy, voleanic, and striking, but the town itself possesses few attractions. A row of fine temples, with lofty picturesque roofs, occupying higher ground than the rest of the town, are the most conspicuous buildings. There are some Public Gardens at the eastern end of the town, which contain a small but interesting Museum. Water- works for supplying the town with pure water were completed in 1889. The climate of Hakodate is healthy and bracing. The hottest month is August, but the thermome- ter 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 population of Hakodate at the close of 1899 was 90,131. The number of foreign resi- dents was 156, of whom 34 were British.

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The foreign trade of the port is small. The value of the imports declined from $676,534 in 1890 to $12,101 in 1892, but increased by an average of slightly over a hundred per cent. each year to yen 1,744,181 in 1899. "The exports in 1899 amounted to yen 2,137,772 against yen 1,248,719, in 1898. The agricultural resources of Yezo have been to some extent developed 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 coast, however, 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 Yezo are large, and may also some day yield a valuable addition to the exports of this port. There are now three large coal mines in operation, one in Poronai, one at Ikushumbetsu, and a third at Sorachi. Hakodate is connected with the capital by telegraph. A railway from Otaru to Sapporo, 22 miles long, was opened to public traffic on the 28th November, 1880, and has since been carried on to Poronai, where are some large coal mines, the total length of the line being 56 miles. A branch to Ikushum- betsu, seven miles, las since been made, and another line from the coal mines to Muroran, a port on the south-east of the island, a distance of 143 miles, has been completed and was opened to traffic in July, 1892. The trade of Mororan in 1899 was yen 479,287, in exports only.