Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 625

WENCHOW

A385

months some of the foreign residents repair to the Northern Hills (), across the river where several bungalows have been built.

There is no foreign settlement at Wênchow, and the foreign residents are a mere handful, consisting entirely of officials and missionaries. There is a considerable native export trade in tea, bitter oranges, tobacco, timber, charcoal, bamboos and kittysols, but manufactures do not flourish, though some excellent floor matting and cross-stitch work are produced by local factories. The firms engaged in the timber trade are located in the west suburb, where are also the timber yards. Immense quantities of timber and bamdoos are kept on hand.

During August and September of 1912 two abnormal freshets occurred in the Wênchow river, causing immense destruction of life and property. In the upper reaches of the main river the water rose 60 feet above normal level, washing away villages and carrying away houses bodily. Some 30,000 people are reported to have been drowned in the Yungchia, Chingtien, Ch'uchow and Juian magistracies. Such a calamity was unprecedented within the memory of the oldest inhabitant. Two particularly severe typhoons in the summer of 1920 caused enormous damage in the neighbourhood. Haimen, a neighbouring city, about 85 miles by sea north-east of Wenchow, was partially destroyed on July 15th by a tidal wave with great loss of life; while in the Nanchi River valley, opposite Wenchow, an equally large loss of life was reported in the second typhoon between September 4th and 6th. In August 1923 and 1926 this port was visited by severe typhoons, although they did not cause much damage either afloat or ashore.

TRADE IN 1939

The period of comparative tranquillity-marked by an unprecedented expansion in local trade--which Wenchow had enjoyed since the outbreak of hostilities was abruptly terminated in the early months of the year, when the city and surrounding district were subjected to almost daily aerial bombardments which continued throughout the summer; while the stringent naval blockade maintained in addition from July to September, and the consequent severing of communications between this port and Shanghai, reduced trading activities to a minimum for a considerable portion of the year under review. In spite, however, of such extraordinarily adverse conditions, the total value of the trade of the port was $10 million in excess of that of 1938, which was the highest recorded in the history of the port. Trade statistics for the year 1939 were as follows: direct foreign imports were valued at $2.8 million as compared with $1.9 million, coastwise importations of Chinese merchandise at $33.9 million as against $27.4 million, direct foreign exports at $11.8 million as against $6.2 million, and coastwise exports of Chinese products at $17.4 million as against $20. 6 million. Under direct imports, pig lead, of which there was no movement in the preceding year, occupied the premier position with a value of $364,107, while paraffin wax was second on the list with an aggregate of 10,191 quintals as compared with 12,248 quintals. Motor-trucks and engine parts thereof, for which there were nil returns in 1938, were among the leading imports in the year under review. The importation of lubricating oil advanced in quantity from 13,590 litres in 1938 to 135,747 litres in 1939. Coastwise imports comprised chiefly cotton sheet- ings and shirtings, cotton yarn, and cigarettes. Of exports for abroad, wood oil constituted the bulk with 98,840 quintals as against 43,901 quintals, while tea decreased appreciably from the preceding year's total of 38,434 quintals to 23,509 quintals in 1939. In consequence of a good demand from abroad, fresh eggs exported in 1939 totalled 9,391,000 pieces as against 1,192,000 pieces in the preceding year. Under coastwise exports, 3rd quality paper figured most prominently with an aggregate of 166,415 quintals as against 272,542 quintals, and fresh eggs totalled 90,755,000 pieces as against 96,356,000 pieces, while vegetable oil registered the striking increase in value from $421,205 to $889,109. Charcoal as relegated to an insignificant position with 108,683 quintals as against 149,659 quintals.

year.

Legal tender notes continued to be accepted at their full face value during the

During the year the total tonnage of vessels entered and cleared under General Regulations was 402,923 tons as compared with 644,479 tons in 1938. The decline was in part due to the irregular schedule of foreign vessels owing to the prevailing tension and in part to the complete suspension of calls by Portuguese steamers since the middle of April. British vessels headed the list with 140,464 tons, followed by Italian, Portuguese and German vessels with 84,649, 69,280, and 71,039 tons respectively.