Directory_and_Chronicle_1938 — Page 779

YOCHOW

A377

and bunding operations was commenced in 1900, and a Custom House and Quarters have been built. It is to be noted, therefore, that the Yochow Custom House is situated at Chengling and not at Yochow as the name would lead one to believe. British, Japanese and Chinese shipping firms maintain regular communications with the "Lake Ports" and have their agents stationed at Chengling. Given peace, Cheng- ling is undoubtedly one of the most healthy towns in the Yangtsze Valley. Since the occupation of this port by the Cantonese Army in August, 1926, the Chengling Bluff has twice been fortified and the Harbour mined in order to prevent a hostile army coming down river from Shasi.

A noteworthy feature of 1907 was the connection of Changtel by steamer during the high-water season-June to October-the resulting trade being valued at Tls. 617,000. Connection with Changteh is now maintained practically throughout the year by steamers of the river type, and tugs and lighters. Buoys and lights were established in 1907 to mark the channel across the lake. The difficulties and risks of this route are -considerable, and it is probable that it will be found advisable to adopt the somewhat longer route via Lulintan; on account of the sharp bends of the River Yuan in its lower reaches, specially adapted steamers will probably have to be used. The question of making Changteh an open port" was considered in 1906 and again taken up in the spring of 1915, and Chinese officials visited the place to enquire into the conditions, but it still remains open only to vessels under Inland Water Steam Navigation rules. In 1920, a new organization for the technical control of the Middle Yangtsze Aids to Navigation and channels was instituted by the Customs.

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The Standard - Vacuum Oil Company has established an oil installation at a point about two miles below the Settlement. It has erected three tanks and contemplates erecting three more. The first oil tanker direct from California arrived here during the high water season of 1926. This installation will be the centre of distribution for the upper Yangtsze and the "Lake Ports," such as Changtel, Yiyang and Tsingshih. Although all oil was withdrawn from the tanks in May, 1927, owing to the then disturbed conditions, the use of the tanks has been resumed since June, 1928.

TRADE IN 1936

Chenglingki (), where the Yuchow Customs function, is of no great commercial importance. Owing, however, to its favourable geographical posi- tion at the entrance to the Tungting Lake, it serves as a transporting centre for merchandise shipped to and from the Lake ports such as Changteh (), Yuenkiang (L), Tsingshih (#), and Yiyang (). Since the rout of communists from Western Hunan and the complete extermination of bandit remnants on the Kiangsi-Hunan border, this section of Hunan Province has enjoyed peace.

In addition to the restoration of peace in the interior, excellent crops were harvested during the year under review. A general survey of the port's trade conditions shows signs that the depression is passing and that prospects are bright for a return to more prosperous times, especially in view of the completion in September of the Canton-Hankow Railway, which will afford quick and cheap means of transportation for Hunan products to the coast. The principal item of foreign import trade was, as usual, kerosene oil, of which 3,820,753 litres was imported as compared with 4,225,054 litres during 1935. Although a decrease was registered, these figures are not entirely indica- tive of actual trade, as arrivals of duty-paid oil from Hankow exceeded those of the previous year. Other petroleum products imported were 105,992 litres of gasoleue and 148 tons of fuel oil. There were besides, considerable quantities of duty-paid sugar, paper, long seaweed, and black pepper imported from Hankow. Yochow had no direct exports, native products destined for foreign countries being re-exported at Hankow and treated as an interport movement of cargo at Yochow. The domestic trade developed satisfactorily. The value of coastwise imports of Chinese produce advance from $6 million to $10 million, and coastwise exports from $7.9 million to $13.8 million. The importation of native cotton piece goods registered a large increase, most of the foreign piece goods being replaced by native articles, chiefly due to the higher cost of the foreign manufactures, which are out of reach of the ordinary buyers. Salt from Haichow reached a total of 1 million quintals, valued at $5.5 million,