Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1150

 1028 japan: — KOREA AND OTHER POSSESSIONS

Production. — Korea is entirely an agricultural country ; the cultivated area is about 5,600,000 acres, but the methods of cultivation are of a backward and primitive type, and the means of communication fe^v and difficult, though improvement is fast being made in this respect. The chief crops are rice, wheat, beans, and grain of all kinds, besides tobacco and cotton. The area under cotton in 1911 was 125,000 acres, and the output for that year estimated at 33,940,000 lbs. Rice, beans, cow-hides, and ginseng are exported in large quantities. Whale iishing is carried on on the coast. ^Live stck is raised as a by-product of agriculture. The cattle are well known for their size and quality.

Gold mining is carried on and promises to be successful. There are four foreign-owned gold mines in active operation, and others in process of development. Copper, iron, and coal are abundant in Korea, but the development of these resources is impeded by defective means of communi- cation. An anthracite CDal mine in the north of Korea is in operation, and considerable extension of the workings are in coDtemplation. Graphite and mica also are found in considerable quantities.

Commerce. — As the result of annexation, the Treaties of Korea with foreign countries virtually ceased to exist, though as a matter of fact, neither the German nor the American governments have as yet unreservedly admitted the cessation of consular jurisdiction over their subjects in Korea. The tariff imposed by these treaties is maintained for a period of 10 years from the date of annexation.

The open ports arc Chemulpo, Fusan, Wonsan, Chinnampo, Mokpo, Kunsan, Songchin, Ping- Yang (inland city), Wiju, Yong-Am-Po, (1908) Chung-jin and Shin-wi-ju. By a Residency-General Ordinance published August 29, 1910, Masampo was declared a closed port from January 1, 1911, while Shin- Wiju (on Yalu River) was opened to trade.

Trade (merchandise only) at the open ports : —

1908 1909 1910

Imports. Exports (ex- cluding gold)

Yen Yen Yen

1911 1911

Yen Yen

41,025,523 36,648,770 39,782,756 '54,087,682 66,846,980

i 14,113,310 16,248,888 19,913,843 ,18,856,955 20,901,670

The imports in 1911 included cotton goods, 1,816,984 yen; cotton yarn, 2,123,827 yen ; raachiDcry, 1,245,833 yen; silk goods, 983,483 yen; tobacco and cigarettes, 894,942 yen; timber, 1,346,971 yen; kerosene oil, 1,436,153 yen ; grass cloth, 1,402,740 yen ; sugar, 1,207,903 yen ; paper, 995,292 yen; coal, 1,348,909 yen. The principal exports were rice, 5,283,772 yen; beans, 4,630,078 yen; cowhides, 1,068,851 yen; cattle, 703,581 yen. Gold was exported to the value of 11,044,296 yen. Of the imports in 1911 the value of 34,058,434 yen was from Japan ; of the exports the value of 13,340,551 yen was to Japan. From China the imports amounted to 5,442,443 yen; to China the exports amounted to 3,009,012 yen. From Great Britain and the United States respectively the imports amounted to 7,923,505 yen and 4,260,903 yen.

Shipping and Communication.—The foreign-going shipping entered at the open ports numbered in 1911, 6,012, with a tonnage of 3,531,493. Of the vessels, 5,997 with a tonnage of 3,435,977 were Japanese; 28 of 85,608 tons British, and 3 of 1,704 tons German.