Directory_and_Chronicle_1913 — Page 761

CHEMULPO–WONSAN

Indo-China Steam Navigation Co., Ld. Glen Line

Dampfschiffs Rhederei " Union " A. G., Java-China-Japan Lijn

British India Steam Nav. Co., Ltd. Chargeurs Reunis

Canadian Pacific Railway Co's. R.

M. S. S. Line

Pacific Mail Steamship Company Toyo Kisen Kaisha Lloyd's, London

Yangtsze Insurance Association, Ltd. Verein Hamburger Assecuradeure

The North British and Mercantile

Insurance Co., Limited, London The Liverpool, London & Globe Insur-

ance Co., Limited, Liverpool Albingia Feuer Vers., A. G., Hamburg The Royal Exchange Assce. Corpora-

tion, London

The Western Assurance Co., London The Norwich Union Fire Assurance

Society, Limited, Norwich

The Royal Insurance Co., Limited,

Liverpool

The San Insurance Office, Shanghai

WONSAN (GENSAN OR YUENSAN)

山元 Yuen-san

This port, situated in Broughton Bay, on the north-eastern coast of Chosen, is in the southern corner of the province of South Ham-kiung, about halfway between Fusan and Vladivostock. It was opened to Japanese trade on the 1st May, 1880, and to other nations in November, 1883. It is called Gensan by the Japanese and Yuensan by the Chinese. The native town has grown considerably since the port was opened to trade, and contains now a population of fully 20,000 inhabitants. The town is built along the southern shore of the bay, and through it runs the main road which leads from Seoul to the Tumen river. Markets are held five times a month for the sale of agricultural produce and foreign imports. The Custom House is situated in the heart of the foreign settlements about a mile distant from the native town. The Japanese have a well-kept settlement containing about 150 houses, with 3,000 inhabitants. The Chinese number 120, and the European and American residents about 30. The harbour is a good one, being spacious, easy of access, well sheltered, with excellent holding ground, and convenient depth of water. When the railway line to Seoul is laid the trade of Wonsan may be expected to show rapid development. January is the coldest month, and one corner of the harbour-that before the native town--is sometimes frozen over, but the part used by shipping is never covered with ice of such a thickness as to interfere with navigation It has been decided to illuminate the harbour by three lighthouses. The country around Wonsan is under cultivation, and the soil is very rich. Within a short distance of the port are mines producing copper and other minerals, and gold is found amongst the neighbouring mountains. The cattle at the port, as nearly all over the country, are very tine and plentiful, and can be bought at very low rates; they are used as beasts of burden and for agricultural purposes, and are largely exported to Vladivostock for food purposes. A telegraph line to Seoul was opened in July, 1891, and has been extended northwards to within 100 li of the Russian frontier.

Trade is carried on by regular lines of steamers running to Japan, Shanghai, and Vladivostock. The value of the foreign trade is about £400,000 annually. The exports consist chiefly of beans, cattle, dried fish, gold-dust, whale-flesh and skins. Imports consist chiefly of cotton and silk manufactured goods, cotton wadding metals, and kerosene oil. About 40 per cent of the imports are cotton goods. There are practically no Europeans residing in the port, the business being mainly in Japanese hands.

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