Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 534

HAKODATE

This, the most northerly of the old treaty ports of Japan, is situated in the south of Yezo, in the Straits of Tsugaru, which divide that island from Honshiu. The port lies in latitude 41 deg. 47 min. 8 sec. N., and longitude 140 deg. 45 min. 34 sec. E., and the harbour is nearly land-locked. The town clusters at the foot and on the slope of a bold rock known to foreigners as Hakodate Head, about 1,000 feet in height, which is within a fortified area to which the public are not admitted. The surrounding country is hilly, volcanic, and striking, but the town itself possesses few attractions. There are some Public Gardens at the eastern end of the town which contain a small but interest- ing Museum. Waterworks for supplying the town with pure water were completed in 1889. The climate of Hakodate is healthy and bracing. The hottest month is August, but the thermometer there rarely rises above 90 degrees Fahr.; in the winter it some- times sinks to 10 degrees Fahr. or even less, the minimum in an average winter being about 12 degrees Fahr. The mean temperature throughout the year is about 48 degrees. The population of Hakodate has been increasing rapidly for many years and is now (1924) 161,115.

The foreign trade of the port is small, but has been steadily growing during the last few years, mainly owing to the development of the Kamtschatka salmon fisheries, for which Hakodate is the principal entrepôt. The value of the imports in 1924 was Yen 36,963,722 and the exports Yen 32,050,504. (These figures include the fishing trade with Asiatic Russia.) The agricultural resources of Yezo have been considerably developed. The rich pasture lands are well adapted for breeding cattle and horses. Beans, peas and timber are exported, and sugar is produced from sugar beets. In the valuable and extensive fisheries on the coast and in the surrounding seas, however, the chief exports of the future from Hakodate are to be looked for. In- creasing quantities of dried fish and seaweed are exported annually, mostly to China. The mineral resources of Yezo are large. The output of coal in 1924 was 5,192,791 tons, sulphur 20,610 tons, manganese 288,499 tons, and small quantities of gold, silver, and copper are produced. Timber was exported in 1924 to the value of 4,783,965 yen. Washing for gold dust has been carried on in Kitami, and the belief is entertained that with proper machinery the gold mines of Hokkaido may be worked with fair profit. Magnetic iron is also obtained. The kerosene wealth of this district is said to be considerable, but none of the borings has so far given a high yield. Nukimi-Mura on Soya Strait-in the extreme north-oil wells were discovered long ago, and have been worked by hand for some years. The oil, in fact, over- flows into the sea, and in stormy weather boats take refuge at Nukimi-Mura, as the sea is rendered smooth by the oil. Oil also exists at Nigori-Kawa, near Hakodate; at Kayamagori, near Shiri beshi; at Itaibetsu, on a tributary of the Urin River (output 800 gallons per day); at Kotamimura and Tsukisama Mura (Imperial property), near Sapporo; and near Abashiri, where the wells are considered rich.

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Hakodate is reached in 24 hours from Tokyo, via Aomori, between which place and Hakodate there is a very good steamship service, maintained by the Government Railways. From Hakodate all the principal points in Yezo can now be reached by rail, and there is also a Government Railway steamship service to Odomari, in Karafuto (Japanese Saghalien). The Hakodate Harbour Improvement Works were completed in 1900, and a patent slip capable of taking vessels up to 1,500 tons was also finished. There is a dry dock to accommodate ships up to 10,000 tons at ordinary spring tides, and at highest spring tides the dock is capable of receiving the largest battleships in the Japanese Navy. At Otaru a massive breakwater, about 3,500 feet long, has been constructed.

In August, 1907, half the city of Hakodate was destroyed by a fire. The number of houses destroyed in the conflagration was ascertained to be 8,977, rendering about 60,000 persons homeless. All the foreign residents with the exception of the American Consular Agent were burnt out, saving nothing, and the total loss was estimated at not less than 50,000,000 yen. Another severe conflagration occurred in April, 1921, when some 2,000 houses were destroyed. A scheme is now in force by which a municipal subsidy is granted to encourage building with fireproof materials.