Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 770

A390

ZICHANG

!

barley, and also the tungtzu trees, from which the ordinary wood oil is obtained by pressing the nuts gathered from the trees. In the sheltered valleys, amongst the mountain ranges west of the city, oranges, lemons, pomeloes, pears, plums, and a very superior quality of persimmons are grown, and find a ready market in the city and at Shasi. The importance of Ichang is chiefly that of an emporium for goods in transit to and from Chungking. Most of the cargo for the latter port is landed here and transferred to steamers. Steam navigation is practicable, for the larger vessels from the middle of April to the end of November and for the smaller vessels throughout the year. The rates for foreign passengers are much higher than on the lower Yangtsze. Aids to navigation and rules, of the road through the gorges are efficiently maintained by the Government, with three River Inspectors functioning between Chung- king and Ichang, night navigation having been introduced in 1936. The upward voyage to Chungking now takes between three and four days, and the return trip just under two days. The port is now connected by motor highway with Hankow and is an important station on the Hankow-Chungking and Shanghai-Chengtu air service lines. The Hupeh-Szechuan motor highway, which will pass Ichang, is under survey. The estimated Chinese population of Ichang is 110,000.

•

TRADE IN 1935

SHAF

AM „ATI 100 $ MAT

{

Although peace, actually prevailed in and around Ichang throughout the year under review, a greater part of the hinterland was threatcived from time to time by danger of attack from the communist force operating in Szechwan and along the western section of the Dupeh-Hunan border. During the second half of the year the feeling of uncertainty became so- strong that the moyement of goods in the interior was regarded as unsafe by most traders at this port, resulting in their adoption of a'cautious attitude, which hampered seriously the business of the port: Consequently, despite the hopeful trading conditions noticeable at this port in the first half-year, during which period staple imports were shipped in considerably increased quantities, the total value of native imports recorded for the year, $10,378,874, was only slightly above the figure for 1934. The chief items registering increases were cotton piece goods, cotton yarn, brown sugar, and leaf tobacco. Foreigu imports consisted mainly of refined sugar and kerosene oil, both commodities being marked by increases: But, as kerosene oil was entirely shipped as a duty-paid foreign re-export from Hankow and Shanghai instead of being imported from bondias in former years, the total value of direct imports recorded for 1935, $115,573, fell short of the previous year's figure by 65.5 per cent. The annual total value for coastwise exports, which had also to face the general depression common to other ports, amounted to only $4,648,408 as against $6,665,376 for 1934, decrease being registered under nearly all headings. The trade of the port was but slightly affected by the flood in July, at the inundation, although of such a calamitons nature that the entire immediate neighbourhood along the river was submerged, rendering over 100,000 farmers and villagers homeless, short-lived and did not extend to the hilly producing districts. Owing to the remarkable improvement in the volume of import cargo for transhipment to Chungking, and, in a lesser degree, to the transportation of troops into Szechwan for the anti-cominunist campaign a great improvement was showił in the shipping trade at Ichung during the year, the total number of entries and clearances being 2,771, aggregating 1,294,665 tons, as compared with 2,435 vessels, with a total of 1,096,631 tons, in 1934. All available vessels on the Tchang Chungking line were put on the run, most of the large steamers not being withdrawn in the low water season. As transhipments of goods were

low-water ... Entirely entrusted to shipping agents by cargo-owners without representatives at this port and were in most cases carried out directly between steamers anchored in the stream, little was added to the prosperity of this port as a result of such increased traffic, although it benefited the shipping companies considerably and also helped the wharf coolies to some extent. The monetary reforms undertaken by the Government in November were carried out in the

}

!

.

{

:.

was