Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-12-16
The Trade Of China.
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE IN STEAM NAvIGl
rInS ON THR RIVERS

AMERICAN ENTERPRISE IN STEAM NArIGA-
TON on THE RIVERS.
A series Of highly interesting returns has
recently been published by the Customs,
showing the import and export trade at the
principal treaty ports during the past year.
Not the least interesting among them, nor the
least interesting among them, nor the least
astonishing in the result it discloseS, is that
relating to Hankow. The total value Of the
trade at this river port was between seven
and eight millions sterling-namely; $685.
81 taels in imports and l2,74l ,9OS taels III
exports. The whole of this must, Of course,
not be attributed to foreigners, though they
monopolize very large share. Two articles
alone - shirtings and opium - contribute
nearly 100000 taels towards the total OF
imports, in the proportion Of l,lOOO0 taeis
the former, and $50, 900 taels the latter anu
if 2,250, 900 taels' worth of copper cash De eN-
cepted, BY far the larger proportion OF !ae
remainder is made up by articles OF iofelen
manufacture. Cloths Of various kinds hgu1e
for 100000 taels and long ellis for ooV'VV
taels; black pepper for 1000 taeis, anu
brocades for 100000 taels. Those who may
still regard sharks fms as 4 myth, and ciros
nest soup as existing only in the magma
ton of travellers, may be interested TO learn
that no less than 1000 taels' worth Of inns
and 8. 500 taels' worth Of nests were import
ed into Hankow during the past year. Fan
CIV IL 200 sterling for birds nests at one city
only. Among the exports, tea OF course
takes the most prominent position, figuring
for no less than I, 900, 900 taels, or f2,25O,OOO
sterling, and this is the only article Of pro-
duce which attracts the eve in running down
the list. The remaining 100000 taels are
all made up of comparatively small sums, the
most worthy Of note being wood oil, which
figures for 100000 taels, saffiower $4,000
taels, and tobacco 100000 taels. Among
other items, "walnuts" figure for no less
than 1900 taels, and tigers bones" for
1872 taels. Eleven pounds Of duck feathers
are valued at twelve shillings, and twenty
pounds Of "human hair" figure for three
tuels, though for what earthly purpose Chi
naman's hair, which is tritie coarser than
horses, can be made to serve it is difficult to
conceive.
This large traffic of course employs num-
Der of vessels, principally steamers, in carri-
age, and in this point, and in this only, in
China, American enterprise outstrips Brit
ish, as the number Of ships plying on the
river which fly the Stars and Stripes nearly
doubles those which can hoist the Union
Jack Altogether the steamers running On
the Ysng-tze paid LIS, 900 taels for tonnage
dues at Hankow alone during the past year.
The total inward tonnage Of every descrip,;
ton entered at the port during that period
was l9l, l27 tons, and Of outward ships 2O4,.
1856. or this, in the aggregate, los, 900 was
British, 10000 American, and 3.5iI ~
French. Out Of this latter total 2, 1861 tons
were represented by native junks sailing IN
der French protection, leaving l, l5O tons re-
presented BY seven small lorchas purely
French.
I am not able TO contrast these results
with those exhibited by the previous years
customs returns, but am assured that they
show a considerable increase. Taken by
themselves they are sufficient proof Of the
large trade which is now carried on in 70,
reign shipping, at port which was visited
for the first time BY Lord Elgin only six
years ago.-Cor. London Times.