Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 705

HAKODATE

This, the most northerly of the old 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 hilly, volcanic, 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 there 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 is about 10,000. The number of foreign residents on December 31st, 1906, was 263, of whom 44 were British, 66 American, 41 French and 98 Chinese. Only three foreign firms are established in the port, one being British, one Russian, and one American.

The foreign trade of the port is small but has been steadily growing during the last few years. The value of the imports in 1907 was yen 2,845,480 and exports yen 344,575. One hundred and eighteen steamers of 99,245 tons and 137 sailing vessels (including junks) of 20,329 tons entered, and 131 steamers of 119,485 tons and 160 sailing vessels (including junks) aggregating 22,413, tons, cleared during the year 1907. 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. The Sulphur exported in 1907 amounts to about 25,000 tons a year. Manganese has been produced in large quantities between Hakodate and Otaru, and an important export business in this commodity seems to be developing. Copper has not figured in the export returns since 1904. Timber has during the past few years formed the chief item in the export list; in 1907 it represented in value just over half the total. There are now four large coal mines in operation, one in Poronai, one at Ikushumbetsu, one at Yubari and a fourth at Sorachi. The quantity of coal contained in the fields of the Hokkaido is approximately estimated at 600,000,000 tons. Washing for gold dust is being energetically carried on in Kitami, and there is reason to believe with proper machinery the gold mines of Hokkaido may be worked with fair profit. Up till the summer of 1899 but little interest was taken by the public in the oil production of Hokkaido, but since then a great deal has been heard of the kerosene wealth of this district, and it is even stated the prospects are not inferior to those of Echigo. The places where oil is said to exist are numerous. At Nukimi-Mura on Soya Strait-in the extreme North-oil wells were discovered long ago, and have been worked by hand for some years. The oil, in fact, overflows into the sea, and in stormy weather boats take refuge at Nukimi-Mura, as the sea is rendered smooth by the oil. Õil also exists at Nigori-Kawa, near Hakodate; at Kayamagori, near Shiribeshi; at Itaibetsu, on a tributary of the Urin River (output 800 gallons per day); at Kotamimura and Tsukisama Mura (Imperial property), near Sapporo; and near Abashira, where the wells are considered rich. Hakodate is connected with the capital by telegraph, and a line of railway (157 miles) connects Hakodate with Otaru. 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 Ikushumbetsu, seven miles, has 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,

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