Despite one of the most turbulent years in its history the Marine Department of the Chinese Maritime Customs has once again come out with its report for the past year, in the shape of a 500-odd page book, with dozens of maps and inserts, bound in the familiar yellow cover of publications issued by the Statistical Department.
To the casual reader, perhaps the most interesting part of the report lies in the manner in which all reference to the hostilities have been neatly dealt with in a manner which will offend the susceptibilities of neither party. At times, however, they would appear to have erred slightly on the side of impartiality.
Under "Shanghai" for instance appears the following:
The launch and passenger-boat traffic between Shanghai, Hangchow, Wuhsien (Soochow) and Huchow was of considerable importance in pres railway days but has now dwindled to a very insignificant. figure owing to competition by speedier railway transportation. The opening-up of the various mour roads around Shanghai recently has dealt the final death-blow to this busi mess The Shanghai City Government Ferries run various ferry services across the river and down to Woosung. These Services are run on schedule by modern and well-equipped motor-driven vessels.
These two paragraphs, which avpear on page 113 of both the 1936 and 1937 reports, were undoubtedly true up to the middle of August last year, and there is no doubt everyone hopes they will be true again in the not too distant future But reading them in the present tense at the moment makes one fee! somewhat strange.
Apart from what appear be to discrepancies of this nature, however, the Marine Department report is the concise yet all-embracing report it has ever been with information and maps covering all Customs districts in China. from Pakhoi to Chinwangtao, and Shanghai to Chungking.
In addition, there are separate chapters given to aids of navigation, both established and discontinued construction and maintenance works work in hand or under. considera tion; wrecks and. other casualties fog-gun signal table: tide and river guage readings; port signals: and many others.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.