Directory_and_Chronicle_1925 — Page 1053

KONGMOON

977

quantities of softwood poles are floated down in the form of rafts, which are dismantled here. These mostly come from beyond Wuchow and also from the North River. The yearly value of this branch of the trade is estimated at about $750,000. Owing to the frequent piracies in the delta, the cocoon market hitherto established at Yungki has been transferred to Kongmoon, and during the season the numerous steam launches and boats employed in this line of business give the port in front of the settlement a lively and animated appearance. There is a silk filature in the town which affords employment to about 300 women; the total out-turn of silk amounts to about 100 catties per day. An interesting local industry is the dredging of large shells, from which a good quality of lime is made. The annual production of these shells is estimated at 200,000 piculs, worth about $40,000. Quite an important industry has sprung up in Kongmoon, namely, the preserving and canning of Chinese fruit for export abroad, where it is consumed by the numerous Chinese in America, Australia and the Straits Settlements. Paper, which finds a ready market in Hong- kong, is manufactured by the Kongmoon Paper Mill, whose output of 40 piculs a day has been increased recently by 50 per cent. in consequence of the installation of additional machinery from England.

The unique opportunities presented for transport by the unrivalled waterways of the delta have been well developed by native enterprise, and there is a large and lucrative passenger trade with Canton, Fatshan, Sancheong, Hongkong, Macao, etc. Large, roomy native passenger boats towed by powerful launches are engaged in this trade.

The surrounding country is picturesque, fertile and highly cultivated, and the inhabit- ants are prosperous and industrious. Rice is, of course, the principal crop, and it is milled locally, but mulberry shoots are very extensively cultivated for sale in the silk- producing centres, and large quantities of fresh vegetables are exported to supply the Hongkong market.

The net value of the port's trade in 1923 was Hk. Tls. 17,831,275, as compared with Hk. Tls. 10,658,177 in 1922, and Hk. Tls. 8,236,251 in 1921.

DIRECTORY

ASIATIC PETROLEUM Co. (SOUTH CHINA),

LTD.-Tel. Ad: Petrosilex

E. B. G. Souter, manager

BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO Co. (CHINA),

LTD.-Tel. Ad: Powhattan

O. M. Hoh, manager

BRITISH CONSULATE

Consul-General-(residing at Canton)

CANADIAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION

Rev. B. D. Armstrong, B.A.

Mrs. B. D. Armstrong, R.N.

Rev. T. A. Broadfoot, B.A., B.D., secy. Mrs. T. A. Broadfoot, R.N.

Harvey Becking

Mrs. Harvey Becking

Miss L. I. Crockett

Dr. Jessie A. MacBean, M.D.

Dr. W. B. McClure, M.D. (on leave)

Mrs. McClure

Dr. John A. McDonald (on leave) Mrs. John A. McDonald

Miss B. M. Cairns

Miss A. J. Dulinage, B.A.

do.

Rev. W. R. McKay and wife Dr. V. Cheung

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME

Acting Commissioner-H. D. Hilliard Assistant-H. R. J. W. Flanagan Medical Officer-W. B. McClure Assistants-Fong Kun-chiu, Ng Shiu-

hung and Leung Im

Tidesurveyor and Harbour-master—

E. O'Hare

Examiners-C. S. Goddard, W. Battley Assist. Boat Officer-F. A. Strandvig Tidewaiters-W. Neville, H. A. Stork

and W. J. Morris

POST OFFICE, CHINESE

Postal Commissioner (residing at

Canton)

Postmaster-Tong Kum Chuen

STANDARD OIL CO. OF NEW YORK-Tel. Ad:

Socony

M. H. Varn, manager

TEXAS COMPANY--Pakkai

C. H. Bratt

S. P. Wah

S. C. Wah