Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 271

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

TIENTSIN

A37

adequate. Local prices of wool jumped over 100 per cent towards the second half of the year. The serious drop registered in sheep's wool should occasion no surprise, seeing that the export of this article was banned in October 1938. Of the small quantity shipped, namely 302,902 kilogrammes, Germany took 181,696 kilogrammes and the United States of America 120,903 kilogrammes. Exports of woollen carpets fell off slightly from 10,849 to 10,465 quintals.

Total exports of salt to Japan amounted to 1,793,200 quintals, whereas the figures for 1937 and 1938 were 1,994,001 and 3,431,300 quintals respectively. Exports of straw braid showed substantial increases. Coal deposits in the five provinces in North China are estimated to be 54.48 per cent of the total deposits in China. The total output of the Kailan mines during the year is reported to be 6,459,000 tons, of which 5,265,000 tons have been marketed. Reacting to increased cost of commodities, especially mining materials, and of living, prices of Kailan coal have been twice increased to cover the cost of production and the extra expenses under general overhead. Owing to transportation difficul- ties that confronted mines in the hinterland, no competition from other mines was experienced.

During the year under review Chinese and foreign flag vessels trading with Tientsin under General Regulations ran to a grand total of 5,389,120 tons. Of this total, 3,083,370 tons represented direct traders and 2,305,750 tons coastwise bottoms. While falling slightly under the 1938 record of 5,570,559 tons, the figure compares favourably with the 4,389,803 tons of 1937. As in the previous year, the Japanese, British, German, Norwegian, and Chinese flags occupy the first five places in the order given. With the exception of the Japanese flag, which advanced from 2,292,607 tons in 1938 to 2,465,572 tons (2,148,162 tons representing direct vessels and 317,410 tons coastwise sailings), the total tonnage registered under the other four flags all dropped considerably. Movement of cargo on the Haiho has been subject to constant delays during the year. Firstly, the institution of inspection of shipping passing up and down the river by the Japanese military authorities tended to hold up shipping; then the congestion at the wharves in Tientsin added to the difficulties experienced. A large part of the river frontage was reserved for military use, and points of discharge formerly available were no longer open for the public. The flood of August had a very adverse effect on shipping activities in general. For a period of over a fortnight no cargo could be discharged at the local wharves.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 271

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