Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1153

 STATISTICAL AND OTHER BOOKS OF REFERENCE 1031

eoimtries with which there is traffic ])eing China and the United States, In 1911 the imports amounted to 5,440,412?. (3,444, 168?. from Japan); exports, 6,603,147Z. (5,258, 139Z. to Japan). The chief exports in 1911 were tea, 818,558?. ; camphor, 353,536?.

Roads have been and are being constructed throughout the Island. There are now 290 miles of railway open and over 125 miles of light railwa3\ In 1911 there were 135 post offices, through which passed 28,493,762 packets and 367,055 parcels. The telegraph service has 117 offices ; length of line 1,000 miles ; of wire, 3,000 miles ; messages (1912), 1,273,311. Telephone line, 790 miles; wire, 4,030 miles; calls (1912), 3,704,104.

At the end of 1911 the post office savings' bank had 100,819 depositors with 191,886?. to their credit.

The coinage current in the Island is that of Japan.

Hokoto or the Pescadores consist of about 12 islands, with a total area of about 50 square miles.

Japanese Sakhalin (or Karafuto) consists of that portion of Sakhalin which lies to the south of the parallel of 50" north latitude. It has an area of about 12,500 sq. miles, and, in 1912, a population of 43,273 (23,783 males and 19,490 females). The most important industry of the island is the herring fishery, but large areas are fit for agriculture and pasturage, and Japanese settlers have been provided with seed and domestic animals. There is a vast forest area of larch and fir trees. The minerals found are coal and alluvial gold.

The revenue and expenditure for 1912-13 are estimated to balance at 2,200,345 yen, two-thirds of that amount being advanced by the Japanese government.

The leased Territory of Kwantung, the southern part of the Liaotung Peninsula, has an area of about 1,256 sq. miles, and a population (December 31, 1911) of 488,089, of whom 446,714 are Chinese and 41,259 Japanese (exclusive of army and navy). The Territory is under a Japanese governor-general, the seat of administration being at Dairen (or Tairen, formerly called Dalny), where there is an elementary school with 800 pupils ; also an American Presljyterian Mission with a church and an hospital.

The estimates for 1912-13 balanced at 5,246,887 yen.

The chief agricultural products of the Territory are maize, millet, beans, wheat, buckwheat, rice, tobacco, hemp, and various vegetables. Thereis an active fishing industry. The chief manufactured product is salt, which is abundant in the Territory. Since July 1, 1907, the Territory forms a Customs district under the Chinese Imperial Customs, Dairen being the Customs port, with out-stations at Kinchow, Pulantien, Pitzewo, and Port Arthur. ^ The port is free, goods being subject to duty only on crossing the frontier of the leased territory. The trade is mostly with Japan. Imports (1911), 42,274,723 yen ; exports, 47,416,047 yen. Dairen has a fine harbour, ice- free all the year, and protected by a breakwater 1,000 yards long. The harbour is provided with sheds and warehouses, under the control of the Manchuria Railway Company. The railway connects Port Arthur and Dairen with Mukden, Kharbin, and the Eastern Chinese Railway System.

Gold and silver coin and the notes of the Yokohama specie bank are current.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning' Japan.

1. Official Publications.

Constitution of the Empire of Japan. Tokio, 1889. Financial and Economic Annual of Japan. Tokio. Foreign Office Reports. Annual Series and Miscellaneous Series. London.