Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 412

A34

· TIENTSIN

pared with $13.7 million during the previous year. With the exception of goat skins, which increased in number from 2,428,346 to 3,090,522 pieces, marmot skins, which increased from 154,887 to 286,609 pieces, and sheep skins, which increased from 57,986 to 165,769 pieces, there was a decline in quantity under all other headings as compared with 1936. The United States of America continued, as before, to be the principal buyer, but Tientsin, the chief centre of supply, was cut off from the interior by the hostilities for the whole of the latter half of the year. The export of mats and rugs, not otherwise recorded, approximated the record quantity of 1936, exports totalling 853,069 pieces value at over $8 million. Seeds of various kinds exported during the year were valued at $6.3 million as against $8.7 million. Groundnuts in shell dropped by more than one-half, 14,526 quintals only being exported as against 33,232 quintals. On the other hand, shelled groundnuts showed an increase of over 100 per cent, the figures for 1937 and 1936 being 7,834 and 3,616 quintals respectively. As in previous years, Japan was the sole buyer of cotton seed, exports aggregating 468,871 quintals as compared with 509,008 quintals. The export of linseed dropped amazingly, Australia's takings, which totalled 206,000 quintals in 1936, dropping to 55,095 quintals, the sources of supply in Suiyüan, Chahar, and Inner Mongolia being largely cut off. In spite of floods and unsettled conditions, exports of raw cotton reached the high figure of 284,070 quintals valued at $23.4 million, which, while being under the 1936 record of 306,270 quintals, represents a great increase over the figures for 1935 and 1934. Exports of wool declined from 16,446,331 kilogrammes valued at $17.5 million during 1936 to 11,597,574 kilogrammes valued at $19.7 million during the year under review. The unusual demand for carpet wools which set in from America in October 1936 spent itself in the early part of 1937, and few orders were received from America thereafter; moderate quantities were, however, taken from time to time by Germany, and local mills were also active in producing yarn for the manufacture of carpets. Large quantities of wool were accumulating at Kalgan, Suiyüan, and Paotou at the end of the year, no fresh supplies being received at Tientsin after August. The monopolisation of wool purchases in Mongolia and Sinkiang and their exporta- tion to Japan through channels other than Tientsin appears a probability in the future. Locally hand-made woollen carpets and rugs exported abroad again attained a record, the amount being 13,591 quintals valued at $6.9 million. The high standard of workmanship and beauty of design all contribute to the increasing trade. The export of straw braid fell short of the previous year's figures, the mottled variety totalling 2.957 quintals as against 3,914 quintals and the white variety 1,528 quintals as against 1,977 quintals.

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With the exception of the Kailan Mines, the operation of which remained uninterrupted, all other mines suffered from the hostilities and disruption of communications. The reported output of the Kailan Mines was 4,788,000 tons. Local industrial concerns enjoyed considerable prosperity during the period prior to the outbreak of hostilities, but suffered considerable difficulties and losses thereafter. In both mining and industrial spheres Japanese interests have shown unusual activities, more particularly in the cotton weaving and spinning industry, new mills now under construction or projected being designed to operate a million spindles.

In shipping, the downward trend tonnage was accentuated, due to abnormal conditions and the ensuing stagnation of trade. Total tonnage entered and cleared fell from 5,165,247 tons in 1936 to 4,389,803 tons. British-flag vessels continued to head the list, with 1,464,000 tons, followed by Japan with 1,323,759 tons, with Chinese-flag vessels falling from 1,144,046 to 818,635 tons. The work of the Haiho Conservancy Commission was not interrupted during the hostili- ties, and ice conditions remained easy during the 1937-8 season.