948
KONGMOON
1905 failed to alter his opinion. The trade returns for 1907 show an increase of Hk. Tls. 31,743 on the net value in 1906. There is daily steam communication with Hongkong, regular connection with Macao, and considerable numbers of vessels trading under the Inland Waters Regulations arrive and depart daily. There are also several large junks trading regularly to Hongkong, Macao, and the island of Hainan. A railway from Kungyik, running southwards to Sunuing, a distance of just over 17 miles, has been constructed under the supervision of native engineers, and the line is being continued southward to Samgaphoi, on the coast. This railway taps a rich district, and will un- doutedly prove beneficial to the trade of Kongmoon. The Sunning Railway Company has obtained the concession to extend the line to Konginoon, and intends to commence the construction soon after Chinese New Year. A Telegraph Office was opened on the 8th December, 1907, and telegraphic communication is now possible with the Fatshan office. The principal articles of export consist of prepared tobacco, joss-sticks, strawmats, palm-leaf fans, and fresh vegetables; and imports are largely represented by dried fruits, foreign piece goods and foreign sundries, including a variety of Japanese com- modities of a cheap nature. Large quantities of softwood poles are floated down in the form of rafts which are dismantled here. These mostly come from beyond Wuchow and also from the North River. The yearly value of this branch of the trade is estimated at about $750,000. There are two silk filatures in the town which afford employment to about 300 women each: the total out-turn of silk amounts to about 100 catties per day. An interesting local industry is the dredging of large shells from which a good quality of lime is made. The annual production of these shells is estimated at 200,000 piculs, worth about $40,000.
The unique opportunities presented for transport by the unrivalled waterways of the Delta have been well availed of by native enterprise, and there is a large and lucrative passenger trade with Canton, Fatshan, Sancheong, Hongkong and Macao, etc. Large roomy native passenger boats towed by powerful launches are engaged in this trade.
The surrounding country is picturesque, fertile and highly cultivated, and the inhabit- ants are prosperous and industrious. Rice is, of course, the principal crop, but mulberry shoots are very extensively cultivated for sale in the silk producing centres, and large quantities of fresh vegetables are exported to supply the Hongkong market.
The net value of the port's trade in 1907 was Hk. Tls. 3,763,950.
DIRECTORY
CONSULATE, H. B. M.
Consul-H.H. Fox, residing at Canton
CUSTOMS-IMPERIAL MARITIME
Asst.-in-charge-J. W. Loureiro Assistants-C. A. S. Williams, J. E.
Hartshorn
Tidesurveyor & Harbour Master-F.
J. Ailshorn
Assistant Examiner-H. F. Brackstone Tidewaiters &c.--J. S. Chubb, F. Ambroise, M. Bryan, H. Tjömsland, H. H. Scheithauer, A. H. Craig,
A. Z. de Souza, C. Wilkes, M. J. Barreira, A. Z. de Souza
HOI ON Co., Cargo Brokers & Comn. Agts,
Lui Cho Hing
Agencies
New York Life Insurance Co. Hamburg Fire Insura: ce Co.
POST OFFICE— Imperial Chinese
Acting Postal Commissioner-A. H.
Hyland (Canton)
Postal clerk-Chou Ping Yu
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