Indications in the dyestuffs markets, said a British importer of this commodity, are that the northern market almost saturated. Local trade hi been affected to a certain extent, and here again the potential influence Is great, and is affecting prices.
Cotistle soda, said a third importer, was anoter item that has engaged the attention of the smugglers recently, but he was glad to be able to} say that, 50 far as could be gathered, this was not a very paying propos! tion so far as the smugglers were concerned. It was extremely bulky' and dim cult to transport, and after' meeting all costs, very little saving} resulted over the price of importing] caustic soda through the legitimate: channels.
The smuggling in North China has killed the paper trade existing between Shanghai and Tientsin, accord-Ing to paper merchants. Previously, it was pointed out, Tientsin paper dealers had their agents in Shanghai and imported all their requirements through them. Now Tientsin dealers} are importing their needs direct through northern ports. It isnot! quite certain whether the paper is imported absolutely duty free or! whether a nominal duty te imposed. Although it was mentioned that Japan now manufactures all popular paper brands on the market, smuggling also being done in European manufaetured papers. So far as is known no quantities of smuggled paper ave been brought down from the north fo Shanghai, but this is not very furprlaing as the paper market locally dead.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.