In a very cold winter ice can be cut three times in succession in the same section of the moat, producing about 25,000 blocks. But if the winter is mild the ice can only be cut twice which reduces the amount to under 20,000.
As one block of ice weighing roughly 250 catties can be sold for about $3, it looks at first sight as if this must be a pretty profitable bu: n But actually the contractor claims to make only seven to $800 clear profit on tae whole business. For there is a very large wastage in the ice-pits where the bottom layers all melt completely away before the end of the selling season The ice, to all outward appearances looks fairly pure.—Neverthel those who have seen the moat at times of low water in summer and autumn with cargoes of gar ug cabbage stalks, dead ud worse, floating o face, will think twice before the ice from the Peipin their cocktail-shakers.
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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.