Directory_and_Chronicle_1918 — Page 939

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YOCHOW-SHASI

863

enormously, and its distribution between the ports of Changsha and Yochow is determined principally by the state of the river. The value of Yochow's share of the trade in the year 1916 was Hk. Tls. 7,978,499, which shows an increase over 115 of Hk. Tls. 874,432.

The noteworthy feature of 1907 was the connection of Changteh by steamer during the high-water season-June to October-the resulting trade being valued at Tls. 617,000 Connection with Changteh is now maintained practically throughout the year be special tugs and lighters, and the value of the trade amounted to Tis. 4,427,489 in the year 1916, of which amount Tls. 1,520,391 represented the value of native exports. Buoys and lights were established in 1907 to mark the channel across the lake. The difficulties and risks of this route are considerable, and it is probable that it will be found advis- able to adopt the somewhat longer route via Lulintan, though, on account of the sharp bends of the River Yuan in its lower reaches, specially adapted steamers will probably have to be used. The question of making Changteh an "Open Port again taken up in the spring of 1915 and Chinese officials visited the place to enquira into the conditions, but the place still remains only open to vessels under I.W.S.N., rules. The principal products exported from Changteh through Yochow are native cloth, ramie, wood oil, vegetable tallow, lotus nuts, broad beans and hides. The export of Wood Oil increased from 10,881 piculs in 1915 to piculs 48,786 in 1916, owing to the existing demand from America.

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DIRECTORY

CHINESE POST OFFICE (Hunan District)

Acting Postal Commissioner-E. F. S.

Newman (Changsha)

Acting 1st Class Postmaster - Ho

Tun Chih (Yochow)

關州岳

CUSTOMS-CHINESE MARITIME

Tidesurveyor and Harbour Master--

E. Shelton

Tidewaiters R. J. Burke-Close, W. S.

H. Fuller, A. Emiliano

MISSIONS

(For Protestant Missionaries see end of volume)

POLICE

Commissioner-N. E. Bryant

E. Shelton, superintendent

SHASI

市沙 Sha si

Shasi (the "market on the sands") is one of the ports opened to foreign trade under the Japanese Treaty of 1895, the official declaration of the opening being dated the 1st October, 1896. The port is about 85 miles below Ichang and is situated at the crossing point of two inost important routes of commerce in Central China, namely, from east to west and from north to south and vice versa. It is reclaimed from the river and the sea by a magnificent system of dykes and canals, and is "a monument of ancient commerce, and a witness to native perseverance and engineering skill." The district suffers periodically from the flooding of the Yangtze. In July, 1908, the river rose to 30 ft. 9 inches, and caused the destruction of all the earlier summer crops. The general commerce of the port has increased yearly since the Re- volution and a succession of floodless years has brouglit prosperity to the agriculturalists. The population, which is steadily increasing, is estimated at about 80,000, and the floating