( 181 ) 



STRAITS SETTIEMENTS. 



(See Plan, p. 140.) 



THE Colony under the above designation lies, roughly speaking, between 1 and 6 N, Lati- 

 tude, and 100 and 104 E. Longitude. It consists of the islands of Singapore and Penang, 

 and of three strips of territory on the mainland of the Malay Peninsula called Malacca (one 

 of the three Settlements), Province Wellesley, and the Dindings. The seat of Government is 

 the town of Singapore, and the form of administration is that found in Crown Colonies. 



The population of the Straits Settlements, according to the census of 1881, amounted to 

 423,384, and was distributed as follows : 



Europeans. Malays. Chinese. Natives of India. 



Singapore ............... 2,769 ... 22,155 ... 86,766 ... 12,058 



Penang ..................... 612 ... 21,772 ... 45,135 ... 15,730 



Malacca .................. 40 ... 67,513 ... 19,741 ... 3,891 



Prov. Wellesley ......... 76 ... 58,723 ... 21,637 ... 10,616 



The Bindings ............ 2 ... 1,847 ... .466 ... 37 



Fish forms, with rice, the principal article of food among all the native races. This is 

 especially the case as regards the Malays, while the Chinaman, if he can afford it, will 

 supplement his meal of rice and fish with a small quantity of pork. To supply the various 

 markets about 15,000 persons are wholly employed in fishing operations, and in addition 

 numerous families meet their own requirements, which can be readily done, as the waters 

 of the colony literally teem with fish. 



A considerable trade in salted fish is carried on in these Settlements. In 1882 Singapore 

 received this commodity to the value of 317,000, and it exported the same article to the value 

 of 320,000. The imports chiefly came from Siam (value last year, 140,000), French Cochin- 

 China, East Coast of the Malay Peninsula, and Hong Kong. The exports principally went to 

 Netherlands, India (value last year, 220,000), British Burmah, China, and Hong Kong. 

 Burmah and the neighbouring states also took dried fish from Penang to the estimated value 

 of 40,000. 



Fish-maws and sharks' -fins might in addition be included in this trade. The former are 

 exported to the United Kingdom, 3000 worth being forwarded there in 1882 Netherlands, 

 India, Australia, and China, and they are imported from Hong Kong, Netherlands, India, 

 Cochin-China, and even from Arabia. In the Straits Settlements fish-maws are obtained 

 almost entirely from three kinds of fish, locally known as Siakap, Kuran, and Timereh. Of 

 sharks'-fins about as much is imported as exported, the above-mentioned countries being those 

 which are principally interested in the trade. Last year the imports at Singapore were valued 

 at 6500, and the exports at 7600. From Penang the exports were valued at 8200. 



The fishing class are, as a rule, well-to-do. The only taxes to which they are annually 

 liable are as follows : for a license for a fishing boat, 25 cents ; for a license for an inshore 

 fishing stake, 5 dollars ; for a license for an outshore fishing stake, 10 dollars. 



There is no regular season for fishing, but during the North-east Monsoon (November to 

 March) the markets are less supplied, and prices rule high. The great bulk of the fish 

 brought to the various ports is caught in drag-nets, and at stationary fishing stakes. 



It is estimated that about 20,000 tons of fish are annually disposed of in the town markets 

 of Singapore, of which the value may be placed at about 470,000; while at Peuaug it is 



NDERSON, ABBOTT, & 

 IMPROVED FISHING BAGS. 



8 T R O NG AND WELL MADE. 

 C^ueen Victoria, St., London, E.O. 



