Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 650

A410

SWATOW

quantity from 384,000 to 287,000 quintals, the import for 1939 exceeding, how- ever, that for the first six months of 1938, when 191,000 quintals entered. In order to balance the shortage of ammonium sulphate, beancakes from North China greatly in excess of the previous year's quantities were imported. Minor decreases were recorded in the import of kerosene oil, liquid fuel, embroidery yarn, paper of all kinds, artificial indigo, and fishery products. Offsetting these losses were increased imports of trucks and chassis. Most of the trucks were for commercial purposes. Of gasolene, 6,316,000 litres were imported as against 1,932,000 litres in 1938. The value of embroidery linen imported was $7.5 mil- lion and the quantity 4,804,000 metres as compared with 5,250,000 metres for 1938.

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Coastwise imports showed a remarkable increase over the figures for 1938, being valued at some $54 million in 1939 as compared with $45.6 million in 1938, From January to June Chinese goods flowed into Swatow, mostly from Shang- hai, in large quantities. The value of native cigarettes imported rose from $4.6 million to $7.6 million. The value of Chinese cotton yarn imported rose from $9 million to $13 million, cotton piece goods from $3.7 million to $7.4 million, and beancake from $3.8 million to $6 million. Of the main domestic imports, rice and paddy showed a marked decline, from a value of $4.7 million in 1938 to $2.2 million in 1939, and beans and peas from $3.5 million to $2 million.

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The value of direct exports in 1938 exceeded the value for 1939 by $3.4 million. Exports abroad of drawn-thread work and cross-stitch work and em- broideries other than silk were valued at $8,600,000, compared with $6,700,000 for the first six months of 1938 and $18,600,000 for the whole year of 1938. These figures show that despite difficulties, especially evacuation of workers from Swatow and other towns in the district on account of air-raids, the industry continued to thrive. The heaviest shipments are normally made in the autumn to catch the Christmas markets, but in 1939 the port was closed when these ship- ments would have been sent. The decrease in the despatch of drawn-thread work and cross-stitch work and embroideries other than silk accounted for a fall of over $10 million, whilst a decline in the export of coarse chinaware, fishing-nets, and kittysols accounted for a further depreciation of $1.9 million. The decrease in the value of coarse chinaware exported was, however, not actual as, owing to a rise in prices, chinaware that would formerly have been classi- fied as coarse was placed in the category of fine. Exports of the latter thus appreciated in value by nearly half a million dollars. The closure of many potteries in Kiangsi, owing to hostilities there, created a great demand for Swatow chinaware, whilst the migration of many experts from Kiangsi to the Swatow district improved the quality of the output. Fishing-nets were stated to be overstocked in Siam and Singapore, which accounts for the decline in demand. These decreases in the value of direct exports were largely offset by a trade new to Swatow, namely, wolfram ore (tungsten). Hitherto all wolfram which was a Government monopoly had been carried from Kiangsi overland to Canton. With the occupation of that city in October 1938, transport of the ore was diverted through Swatow, and the amount was valued during the six months of 1939 at $4.6 million. During the previous year none of the ore had been shipped through Swatow, although seizures of clandestinely shipped lots were fairly frequent. Another product of Kiangsi shipped through Swatow in unusual quantities was tin in slabs. There had hitherto been a small trade, but in 1939 exports exceeded those for 1938 in value by nearly $1.1 million. Other unusual exports served to swell the trade figures, e.g., shipments of wood oil were valued at $785,562, of dried mushrooms at $672,488, and of melon seeds at $142,712. Export of these commodities in previous years had been negligible. Intestines were also shipped in quantity for the first time, whilst several large seizures of bristles-the export of which was prohibited by the Chinese Govern- ment indicated that this valuable product of Central and Western China was seeking an outlet through Swatow. Evacuation of thousands of persons to Hongkong and Macao created a heavy demand for foodstuffs at these places, and the value of pigs exported from Swatow increased from $274,327 in 1938 to $984,034 in the period January to June 1939. During part of the 1939 orange season, namely, November and December, the port was closed to trade, and

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