Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 536

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YOKOHAMA-HAKODATE

YOKOHAMA DISPENSARY (Goshi Kaisha), Chemists and Druggists, Aerated Waters

M. Komatsu, managing director

Y. Komatsu, partner

S. Komatsu

G. Fukasawa

K. Yamakiwa K. Kota

YOKOHAMA SPECIE BANK, LTD.-83, Minami Nakadori, 5-chome; Telephs. 3131 and 3231 (Honkyoku)

Kenji Kodaina, president

Reitaro Ichinomiya, vice-president T. Okubo, manager

ZELLWEGER & Co., LTD., E., Raw Silk Merchants-90B, Yamashita-cho; Teleph. 517 (Honkyoku)

A. Brunner (Basle) S. Stachelin do.

J. Plattner (Zurich)

Ed. Zellwezer, signs per pro.

ZEMMA WORKS, LTD., Manufacturers of Machine Tools and Woodworking Machinery, Steam Engines, Steam and Hot Water Boilers-Isogo-machi;Teleph. 3-3400; Tel. Ad: Zemma

H. E. Metcalf, managing director F. G. Britton, manager

T. W. Chisholm 500 Japanese

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 (1925) 163,972.

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In-

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 1925 was Yen 3,364,000 and the exports Yen 8,545,000. 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. 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. At 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 Shiribeshi; 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.