Directory_and_Chronicle_1938 — Page 433

TIENTSIN

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in large quantities, and official statistics convey no idea of imports. Similarly with gasoline and kerosene oil: of gasoline alone 54,000 cases of 10 American gallons is the estimated figure for smuggling, and for kerosene oil 423,000 cases of 10 American gallons each. This oil is mainly of Japanese origin, as smugglers are no longer interested in oils from America or Netherlands India,. such being subject to double taxation by the local so-called "autonomous regime" in Eastern Hopeh. As already mentioned, exports from Tientsin showed an appreciable increase. In egg products a noticeable increase of over $3.8 million was recorded. The reason for this advance are generally believed to be due to improved demand in the United States of America and to the outcome of tests made in Great Britain, which have confirmed that Chinese egg products are hygienically pure and that the fears arising in this regard in the previous year are groundless. In spite of the fact that Tientsin has lost a great deal of its former importance as a fur centre, now that the Manchurian and Mongolian, and other northern sources of supply are no longer available, it still ratains a fair position in the market for dealings in the lower grades of furs, and a general increase in shipments was registered. Very much larger shipments of dog skins, dressed and undressed, which rose from 23,327 pieces in 1935 to 157,476 pieces in 1936 are accounted for by a drop in value. There was a fair demand from abroad for better quality skins, but unfortunately Tientsin was unable to meet the demand, as supplies remained unobtainable at prices which could compete with those exported from Man- churia. Of dressed goat skins, 126,241 pieces valued at $282,882 were shipped abroad, and represent not only three times the quantity sold in 1935, but also show an increase in price of nearly double. Undressed goat skins also met with favour, 2,302,105 pieces valued at $1.7 million being shipped. A total of 985.818 pieces of kid skins valued at $1.3 million and of 974,815 lamb skins valued at $3.7 million were forwarded mainly to the United States of America, sheep skins, dressed and undressed, increased by over 200 per cent in quantity and some 300 per cent in value. Shipments of hides were more than double those of the preceding year, Japan taking nearly all. An increase of nearly $2 million is recorded for seeds, the total value of exports during 1936 being $8.7 million as compared with $6.7 million for 1935. Groundnuts in shell were shipped in considerable larger quantities, exports during the year totalling 33,232 quintals valued at $489,866, while during 1935 only 18,528 quintals valued at $217,742 were sold abroad through Tientsin. On the other hand, shelled groundnuts suffered a set-back, the 1935 shipments of 53,800 quintals valued at $721,000 dwindling down to 3,616 quintals valued at $60,790 in 1936. One of the reasons for this decline is that large quantities are being shipped from Dairen at low prices. Cotton seed fared better, exports totalling 509,000 quintals valued at $1.5 million, showing an improvement over the preceding year's figures of 392,300 quintals. Japan continues to be the sole purchaser. Of all items coming under the heading of seeds, linseed deserves special atten- tion. The main sources of supply are Suiyuan, Chahar, and Inner Mongolia, but during the past years cultivation has been somewhat neglected. During 1936 renewed interest was given to the Chinese products in Australia, and, out of the total export of 386,100 quintals, Australia took 206,000 quintais. The United States of America also remained an interested buyer. Taking Customs figures, exports of raw cotton were 306,270 quintals valued at $23.3 million as against 187,534 quintals valued at $13.5 million in 1935. The area of plantations has increased by some 50 per cent, and a larger acreage is being devoted to American seed cotton. Of all cotton exported, nearly 200,000 quintals valued at $15 million went to Japan. The export of camels' wool declined, goats' wool remaining fairly steady, while total shipments of sheeps' wool declined from 17,136,964 kilogrammes valued at $12.6 million to 14,359,401 kilogrammes. valued at $13.9 million. The Tientsin and Peiping woollen carpet and rug industry is world-famous, and total shipments were valued at $2 million. The principal importers continued to be America, with $1.8 million, followed by Great Britain, with $1.2 million, and South Africa, with $345,000. There was an increase of 1,287 quintals in the export of bristles, while horsehair rose