Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 779

SANTUAO-FOOCHOW

I

A395

green and black tea suffered on account of the hostilities, as the first crop and part of the second crop of the green variety had already been shipped to Foochow-Tientsin when the market in the North became dislocated. As a consequence more black tea had to be manufactured instead. The unfavourable price, however, obtainable from the limited number of foreign dealers available at Foochow rendered it necessary to explore the market in Shanghai. With the development of the war affecting Shanghai and the enforcement of the blockade, all shipments had to be help over except insignificant quantities which were transported overland or by junk to Foochow for which no statistics are available. Steamer shipments included 34,370 quintals of green tea and 16,631 quintals of black tea, showing decreases of 829 quintals and 4,211 quintals respectively as compared with the previous year. Although no statistics are available owing to shipment being made by junk, the amount of sugar produced by native methods is estimated to have been 30,000 quintals. The paper industry lost its northern market: only 6,955 quintals were exported as compared with 9,157 quintals in 1936. In spite of the grant of duty exemption by the Government, no progress was made by the rice-bowl industry on account of lack of capital, the quantity exported by steamers being 1,140 quintals

in 1936.

The weather was fairly normal, although the rain was excessive in the first half of the year. No typhoon visited the district. A Bumper crop is reported of both rice and sweet potatoes, much to the relief of the populace during the national crisis. Subsidiary nickel and copper coin are in circulation together with hank notes issued by the Central Bank, the Farmers' Bank, and the Provincial Bank of Fukien.

DIRECTORY

關海福 Fu Hai Kwan

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME-

Acting Commissioner--Yang Ming

Hsin

Assistant -K'o Yu-p'ing

Boat officer-F. C. Parr

STANDARD VACUUM OIL Co.-Cable Ad:

Stand vac

Hsü Pai-hsi, agent

TELEGRAPH OFFICE

Fee Veng Fiang, manager

FOOCHOW

州福

Fuh-chau

Foochow is the capital of Fukien province. It is situated in lat. 26 deg. 20 min. 24 sec. N., and long. 119 deg. 20 min. E. The city is built on a plain on the northern side of the river Min, and is distant about thirty-four miles from the sea, and nine miles from Pagoda Island, where foreign vessels anchor.

The attention of foreigners was early attracted to Foochow as a likely place where commercial intercourse could be profitably carried on in the shipment of Bohea Tea, which is grown largely in the locality. Before the port was opened, this article used to be carried overland to Canton for shipment, a journey which was both long and difficult. The East India Company, as early as 1830, made representations. in favour of the opening of the port, but nothing definite was done till the conclusion of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The early years of intercourse with the natives were anything but what was anticipated. The navigation of the river was difficult, there was no market for imports, and several attacks by the populace rendered the port an undesirable place of residence for some time. It was not until some ten years after the port had been opened that there was much done in the export of tea from the interior, but after that the quantity shipped increased largely, and Foochow became one of the principal tea ports in China. From 1880, however, when the tea trade of the port reached its highest figure, the prosperity of the place has gradually waned.

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