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“...No. 5151. Annual Series.
Reference, to previous Report, Annual Series No. 4972.
Report on the Trade of the Consular District of Hakodate for the
Year 1912
By Me. Vice-Consul E. L. S. Gordon.
Trade for 1912, review of.—The total value of the direct foreign
trade of this Consular district during 1912 amounted to 1,880,955?.,
an increase, as compared with 1911, of 155,260Z. The main divisions
of the trade were as follows :—
Imports. Exports.
£ £
Genera] trade............154,135 867,900
Pishing trade............456,240 302,437
Korean trade............8,085 92,158
Total... 618,460 1,262,495
There is an increase in all branches, except in fishing trade imports,
which show a decrease of 69,7351.
Business generally in the Hokkaido was in a flourishing condition,
and good crops were realised in the eastern part of the island. In
the Tokachi Valley there was partial damage from storms. In the
home trade, since 1910, there has been an excess of exports.
The progress of the foreign trade...”
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“...temporary export of printing paper, value 2,1322., to Korea,
and of charcoal, value 2,7282., to the United States.
Muroran.—The trade returns for Muroran show a steady decrease
during the past five years, both in imports and exports. While making
due allowance for the large import of machinery for the steel works in
1908 and 1909, it cannot be said that expectations have been realised.
Muroran suffers from the want of a proper hinterland. There is talk
of a railway to Kuchan to the north-west and to Urakawa to the
south-east, and if these projects are fulfilled they may have a favour-
able effect on its prospects. Even then, as regards the first-named
line, it is doubtful whether Otaru, with its greater trade facilities,
will not reap the larger benefit. Raw materials for the steel works,
consisting of pig iron (value 12,5852.), nickel (10,7152.) and iron ore
(3,0802.) represent the greater part of the imports, and exports consist
almost entirely of timber (value 54,1302.) and coal (13,3602.)...”
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“...be built up.
Aomori.—The imports at Aomori consist of kerosene oil, the
exports, of agricultural products, mainly apples, onions, &c., which
go to Vladivostok. The harbour is a poor one, and the country
behind, except the Hirosaki district, not very fertile. The trade
of the prefectures of Akita and Iwate appear to be controlled by
Tokyo, and their products pass through the southern ports.
Odomari.—Direct exports from Odomari consist entirely of timber,
mainly sleepers for Korea. The small value shown in the table is
due to the fact that the greater quantity of timber grown in Karafuto
is exported via Otaru or Moji.
General trade. Imports. Kerosene oil.—The import of kerosene
oil, the chief item in the direct foreign import trade, increased during
1912 by 62 per cent, as compared with the figures for the previous
year. Of the total of 98,904L, 53,640Z. worth came from the United
States, the remainder from Sumatra. The increase is due to the
Standard Oil Company having established an...”
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“...99,978 101,158
Australia ...... ... 15,934 45,737 41,862
Other countries 19,409
Marine products.—Marine products come next to timber in value
in the export trade, and are sent wholly to China, Shanghai taking the
bulk. The value of the Hokkaido fisheries is shown by the following
table, which gives the catch of the principal fish during 1911, the
latest year for which statistics are available, but not a particularly
good one :—
Tons. £
Herring ...... 68,071 586,263
Salmon trout ... ...... 16,296 133,037
Salmon ... ...... 7,010 120,231
Seaweed ...... 28,638 113,147
Cuttle fish ......... ...... 3,943 91,094
Cod ............ ...... 30,813 60,253
Crab ............ ...... 8,465 54,232
Sardines ...... 3,008 22,699
Note.—The quantities in the original table are given in koku, which have
been taken at 6 -72 koku to the ton for fresh fish.
The total value of the Hokkaido fisheries probably approaches
1,500,000?. annually.
Coal.—The export of coal has dropped by 52 per cent, as compared
with...”
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“...combination to regulate prices and quality,
but in Nemuro there are a number of small independent canning
plants. The local market price towards the end of 1912 was about
21. 18s. per box of 4-dozen 1 lb. tins for Karafuto crab and 22. 4s.
for Nemuro crab.
Tinned salmon and trout.—Tinned salmon and trout come from
Nemuro, Karafuto, Kamchatka and the Okhotsk Sea. The quantity
and value of the output during 1912 was as follows, the value being
based on the current market price :—
£
Dry goods ...
Fancy goods...
Iron materials
Hardware
542,906
65,789
170,194
195,728
78,671
Paper...
Producing District.
Quantity.
Value.
Boxes. Lbs.
£
Kamchatka ...
Nemuro and Kuriles
Karafuto
Okhotsk
78,000 3,744,000 |
73,500 3,528,000
17,000 816,000
10,000 j 480,000
84.000
47.000
8,700
5,600
Total
178,500 8,568,000 145,300
Exports to foreign countries consist of the greater portion of
Kamchatka and a part of the Okhotsk product, the remainder being...”
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“...so good as that of the inland sea district. Exports from
Japan during the years 1907-11 are stated to be as follows :—
Year. 1 Menthol Crystals. Peppermint Oil.
j Lbs. £ Lbs. | £
1907 ... ...! 88,330 34,490 120,525 I 29,880
1908 ... 73,247 26,943 136,365 ! 30,617
1909 ... ...: 135,387 50,074 200,680 47,638
1910 ... .J 154,570 66,237 193,316 ! 47,424
1911 ... ...! 150,240 i 68,328 227,870 ! 63,860
The production during 1910 in the Hokkaido was 193,075 lbs.,
valued at 58,2531. In 1911 the value of the Kitami crop rose to 80,838?.,
an increase over the previous year of 56 per cent.
Fishing trade.—Owing to the favourable results obtained in 1911
preparations were made on a large scale for 1912 and great hopes
entertained which were not fulfilled. Except on the east coast of
Kamchatka the run of salmon was poor, and violent storms during
the latter part of the season interfered with the working of the
stations. Much loss was incurred by some fishing firms, antl large...”
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“...small catch prices realised in 1912
were exceptionally good.
Shares of districts.—The shares of the various districts in the north
in the fishing trade were as follows :—■
Exported. Imported.
£ £
Kamchatka 237,316 287,166
Okhotsk 5,798 19,912
Nicolaievsk 37,236 80,523
Tamulao 10,085 34,817
Russian Saghalien 2,273 8,073
Other districts ... 9,729 25,749
Total... 302,437 456,240
Articles for ships' use.—Not included in the tables at the end of
this report is the sum of 84,0691., representing the value of articles
supplied for ships' use, an increase over the previous year of 14,6632.
The principal item was coal, consisting of 92,440 tons, valued at
65,846Z.
Shipping.—Shipping in the foreign trade of this district shows an
increase as compared with 1911 of 47 vessels of 56,935 tons in entrances
and 46 vessels of 65,070 tons in clearances. Taking entrances alone
of steam vessels, British ships increased by 7 vessels and 15,642 tons,
Japanese by 5 vessels and 35,723 tons, Russian by 11 vessels...”
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