its 500-odd pages, the 1936 report of the Marine Department of the Chinese Maritime Customs presents a full and exhaustive review of conditions prevail ing at all the leading China coast and river ports, complete with maps, diagrams and sketches in an almost bewildering wealth of detail.
Not only this, however, but details of postal services," air es, air mail services, telegraph. wireless and telephone services, aids to navigation, sea routes, waterways, communications, berthing facilities, hospitals, consulates and a hundred and one other little mines of information of interest and value to all connected with shipping and other services in China are given.
Take the Shanghai district and harbour as an Illustration of how the material is handled; the Shanghat Customs District includes the coost from Hangchow Bay to the old mouth of the Yellow River, and up the Yangtze River to Vine'Polnt." The frst subject dealt with is hydrograply. During "December twelve unlit buoys were replaced by buoys, thus opening the area between Woosting and Vino Point for night navigation "and enabling vessels to proceed direct between Woosung and Hankow without, as previously, having to walt for daylight to navigate this one section.
The dredging of a channel over he bar at the South Channel entrance continued during the year, and from September 1035 to May 1036 the amount of in situ materials dredged and dumped exceeded 9,200,000 cubic yards, making a total of 3,700,000 uble yards from the start of dredg~ Ing operations. Dredging opera tons, with a wealth of figures, are discussed elsewhere in the book.
Harbour Master, and although it is not compulsory, the Report notes: that the services of a pilot are considered advisable for' ocean-going vessels and for shifting large vessels and from berths in the harbour. The number of licensed pilots at the end of the year was 39, all being or. the active list with the exception of tone, who acted as manager. The {otal tonnage of vessels piloted in 1935. was 16, the Report, together with a lst of ship-chandlers, their addresses, and the nature of their supplies or ser~ slvago plant and_ facilities; water-supply: and hospitals. The Quarantine Service is given special mention, with of charges ranging from $35 for "special medical inspection of vessels between Sunset and sunrise" to $6 for each "Grade LI coffin supplied." Grade 1 coffins cost $12.
Under the heading of "Shanghai District" appear concise reports of waterways, railways, highways, posts, {elegraph and telephone services. in Hangchow, with details of wharves, berthing facilities, ote, in Hangchow harbour itself.
The advantages of motor roads, continues the report, are gra doing realized, a good mum! now dirt and ash roads having been made in recent years, and regular Dus connections established with important towns and villages around Bhanghai. Details of these are give together with useful inform: ion concerning railway services, alr nes and air mails to Shanghai.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.