Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 693

MOJI AND SHIMONOSEKI

These two towns are situated one on each side of Shimonoseki Straits, the western entrance of the Inland Sea-the former on the north and the latter on the south side. The interests of both towns, so far as shipping is concerned, are identical. Shimonoseki is under the jurisdiction of Yamaguchi, 51 miles away, and Moji under that of Fukuoka, 47 miles away. The foreign merchants have their offices on the side that suits their own convenience, but the principal Japanese banks and shipping offices are at Moji. There is a fairly strong tidal current through the Straits, but the anchorage, which is at Moji, is only affected by an eddy, and good holding ground is general. Steamers entering from the West can get pilots at Rokuren Light, where boats have to stop in any case for medical inspection and harbour- master's instructions. From the eastward this inspection takes place at Hezaki Light. Means of transport are good. Liners run regularly to all foreign ordinary ports of call; and while from Shimonoseki the Sanyo Railway taps the North, from Moji the Kiushiu Railway taps the South of Japan. Excellent foreign accommodation can be had at the Shimonoseki Station Hotel, belonging to the Imperial Railway Bureau. This Railway has also two large ferry boats plying between Moji and the Shimonoseki Station, while a ten-minute ferry plies between the usual landing places at Moji and Shimonoseki. Both towns have municipal waterworks, are lit by electricity, and are connected by telephone with the principal towns, from Kagoshima and Nagasaki in the South, to Tokyo in the North East. Imports at Moji for 1913 amounted to Yen 39,534,075, and exports to Yen 20,815,808, substantial increases on the returns for the previous year. Imports consist prin- cipally of machinery, iron ore, sugar, raw cotton, and flour; and exports of coal, cotton yarn, and sugar. The coal exported to foreign countries exclusive of that sup- plied for bunkers from Moji in 1913 amounted to 1,064,870 tons, valued at Yen 6,413,880. At Shimonoseki the imports were valued at Yen 762,810 and the exports at Yen 891,617; the Korean trade returns of the two ports, which are not included in the foregoing figures, show imports valued at Yen 3,962,407 and exports valued at Yen 10,114,879. The population of Shimonoseki at the end of 1911 was 64,279 and 60 foreigners, and of Moji 65,812 and 79 foreigners. It should be specially noted that photographing and sketching are forbidden within a radius of ten miles round Shimo- noseki and Moji on land and sea. The law in this respect is strictly enforced and ignorance is not accepted as an excuse.

DIRECTORY

BIRNIE, LEONARD, Steamship Agent, Char-

tering, Insurance, Coal, Surveying, etc.- Higashi Hon-machi; P. O. Box No. 16; Tel. Ad: Leonard, Moji; Code A. B. C. 5th edition

Agency

The American Asiatic S. S. Co.

BOHLER BROS. & Co., LTD.-Moji Office

Ch. Matsuo, engr., manager

Browne & Co., Merchants-3,338 Kiu-

Moji; Telephone No. 260

C. M. Birnie (Kobe)

R. Walker, signs per pro.

Agencies

Apcar Line of Steamers

Austrian Lloyd Steam Navigation Co.

British India Steam Nav. Co., Ld. North China Insurance Company, Yangtsze Insurance Asstn., Limited New Zealand Insurance Company Sun Fire Office

Ld.

P. & O. Steam Navigation Company Lloyd's (Sanyo District) Java-China-Japan Line of Steamers Commercial Union Insurance Co., Lal British Dominions Gen. Insce. Co., Ld. Maritime Insurance Co. Western Assurance Co.

C. Hoare & Co., Bankers, London Cunard Steamship Co., Ld. Russian Volunteer Fleet

CITY COMMERCIAL SCHOOL-Shimonoseki E. M. Desent, English instructor