The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-05-26
Shortage OF CARGO.
CARRIERS NOTICED.
Withdrawal Of American Ships
From the Pacific Affects
Business Interests

Business letters from China shy that
a shortage of specialties in fine lnces,
embroideries, rugs and cnrios in the
American market owing TO the Euro.
pean war has resulted in rush Of New
York buyers to various Chinese cities.
According TO the The Americas, a large
business Is being done in Chinese rugs
for shipment to the United States as
the rugs from Persia and Central Asin
cannot now be obtained. First quality
Picking rugs that we're formerly drug
on the market at 41,s0 Mexican n foot
ere now selling as high as three dollars
for the 90-strand and three dollars and
quarter for the l00-strand pieces: The
rug industry az Redng is not large
enough TO find output 10 mr. ct the new
demand and all looms. are contracted
for half year ahead. Experts regard
the demand as only temporary and
there will hardly be any increase in the
output. Tientsin is also furnishing a
large quantity of rugs, and these mo,
dern Mongolian floor coverings are
regarded us cheap for their quality and
style, so that the trade in these may be
permanent.
American business interests in
China are seriously affected by the
withdrawal of American ships from
the Pacific as result of the Seamen 8
Act. One. corporation is reported TO
have 100000 tons Of freight waiting
transportation, with only 1900 to 400
tons cargo space available per month
for the particular class involved. Al.
though the freight rates are from three
to six times what they used to be, ship.
ping is not made available. From the
Pacific Coast to Shanghai freights have
advanced from four dollars to thirty
dollars a ton; on cotton machinery
nine dollars to thirty-twO dollars, on
steel products eight dollars to forty dol
lars. Silk, moving eastward, pays
eighty dollars instead of forty dollars
ton. Being valuable and remunera
tive cargo, the increase is not relatively
80 great. One steamship concern Is said
TO have refused 300 tons from Shanghai
t., San Francisco nj thirty dollars a ton
Of freight thatyformerly paid eight dol
lars. A letter contains the following:
Japan Controls Oriental Commerce
Japanese ships now practically
control the commerce between the
States and China, and these are or
dered by the Japanese government
to give Japanese ports the preference
in calling for cargo, while Japanese
shippers in China receive prcferen-
tial treatment. The British Enemy
Trading Regulations as enforced in
China are also embarrassing to Amer
can trade because large amount OF
this trade was handled through German
and Austrian houses before the war
The British shipping companies are for
hidden to carry enemy-tainted cargo
any cargo from which any enemy
firms may directly or indirectly prof
IL; and the ship which has beer
found to carry such cargo may be re
fused clearance on it's next shipment
regardless of the character Of this later
cargo. American firms are not allowed
TO ship on British ships either for Ger
man or Austrians in China or the Unit
ed States, or to those firms indirectly
connected with such cargo, and THU
Rpplies not alone TO eontrabrand, but
to all goods. Strict inquisitorial ex
amihations are made by the British
authorities into all cargo offered fO'
shipment on British ships by neutral
firms.
The japanese shipping companies
under instructions, have plaeed bar
on enemy tainted cargo offered by neu-
trail firms. Both Chinese and Ameri
can firms have suffered badly, as there
are now few ships calling at Chinr
which are under the American flag,
The Enemy Trading Regulations seem
to be handled in a way to further Brit
ish and Japanese interests as much as
possible, whose shippers fare far better
in securing space than do most Ameri
cans. An American firm found guilty
Of trading with German in any way
is blacklisted and henceforth refused
all banking and shipping facilities by