Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 791

SONG CHIN

653

Japanese live in their own houses built in the settlement, and are mostly small shopkeepers and coolies. The harbour is a bad one; indeed, it is little more than an open roadstead anchorage; from N.E. to S.E. it is quite exposed, and even with a moderate breeze from those quarters communication between ship and shore may have to be suspended. The anchorage is not spacious though very easy of access, and vessels drawing 10 feet or so can lie within a quarter of a mile from the shore. Improved jetty accommodation has encouraged the visits of vessels to the port. Fogs prevail for the greater part of the year, and the temperature is moderate at all seasons. The country around Song Chin is well under cultivation, principally for beans. Within reasonable distances, it is said, gold, copper and coal may be found, also a very fine white granite. Hot springs, said to be very efficacious for a number of ailments, are at a distance of some 30 li from the settlement. Cattle are very fine and plentiful and can be bought at low rates. A number of Japanese fishing boats are employed along the coast reaping a seemingly good harvest in bêche de mer.

Trade is carried on by small coasting steamers, principally with the port of Wonsan. The exports chiefly consist of beans, cowhides, hemp cloth and bêche de mer, whilst cotton goods, kerosene oil, ironware and matches form the principal items of imports. The trade returns of the port for 1904 and 1905 practically disappeared owing to the war. The imports were valued at only £1,205 in 1904, and £351 in 1905, and the exports, which were nil in 1904, amounted in 1905 to £445. The respective values in 1903 were £20,007 and £20,363. The war was responsible for the annihilation of the trade of the port in 1904 and 1905. The imports in 1906 rose again to £12,300 and the exports to £10,289. This port shows a tendency to benefit at the expense of Wonsan. The trade in 1907 amounted to £30,779 in respect of imports and £20,248 exports.

DIRECTORY

CUSTOMS-

Commissioner-C. E. S. Wakefield

Assistant-in-charge-K. Araki(absent)

Officer-in-charge-O. Olsen

Clerk-Kwan Chong-hak

GRIUEFF, Z. P.

1

Agencies

Pacific Whaling and Fishery

Joint Stock Co. of Count H. H.

Keyserling & Co.

Pacific S. S. Coy. "Energia"

Chinese Eastern Railway Company's

Steamship Service

院信通國帝韓大

IMPERIAL KOREAN COMMUNICATION DE-

PARTMENT

Postmaster-Yi Chun Yong

Telegraph Manager-Pack Sin Gin

RESIDENCY-JAPANESE

Vice-Consul-T. Kawakami Police Inspector-K. Takahashi

Post Office—

OFFICE—

Postmaster-Y. Ikuhashi