What the Trade Means on Upp er Yangtze: Generals' Charges und Profits: Rates Fi ixed by Yang and Liu Anti-Japanese Bey ation but only within the days hay any drastic action en. The usual fines have 2, and rightly re but what hose concerned of the Sollowing?
About ten days ago the largest consignment of the drug ever shipped in one bottom was landed from a steamer in Ichang, or to be correct about one and a half mi camer anchored tone night at Fengtu, in Szechuan, was compelled by the military to load opium and no halt was called until 30 odd tons or over 770,000 ounces had been put on board. It is, of course, well known that a definite trade in the drug is curried fon in this part of the euuntry under the protection of the military and the rates payable are fixed from to time, For the time being the following rates have been fixed by Generals Yang Sen and Liv Msi Wanhsien, plus $6 protection tax at Wanhsien plus $2 coolie hire, all of which has to be paid by the ship. This 20 from. srhich auetoer sum is deducted in various squeezes before the final Gredited to. the ship carrying the consignment, With reference {0 the shipment already referred to, your corres: pondent is informed that well over $200,000 wax paid out in taxes and gratuities of which a little over $1,000 went {o the various members the crew. Unless radical measures are taken to suppress the cultivation of the poppy the mere ounces in Shanghai amount to less than nothing.
Aati-Japanese Boycott In common with other places been in operation and cages have been erected on the streets for the irearceration of those daring te deal in goods of Japanese manu facture. Two days ago one man way thus imprisoned on one of the main streets for buying some gush goods. In a speech delivered to passers-by he -stoutly maintained that he was in his present position because he hud not enough money in his pocket to satisfy those who captured him, Furthermore he stated that one of his captors was imelf wearing clothes of Japanese On the 5th instant all coolies and stevedores employed by the Nippon ison Kaisha were withdrawn from work. The Association, faced with the problem of providing for all these men deprived of thei only means of livelihood, have accepted the responsibility. To-day ide to the question is teresting, They say in effect, "We cannot pay you money but we will do our best to find employment for you with other firms in the port." Such a promise may sound very well but as the river has fallen' to winter level work is not too plentiful so that it will he impossible for these poor creatures to find work. The coolie therefore seems to be in for a hard time while those who have charge of the boycott live in comfort and draw in the dollars.
An attempt is also being made to compel shipping companies to have all through cargo discharged into the godowns and examined before being sent on to Szechuan, Latest news however seems to indicate that this attempt will be dropped,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.