IN SOUTH-EASTERN MANCHURIA. 7 



commission hongs, where they are dumped arid repacked, thus offering the buyers from Chefoo 

 an opportunity to make their selections and bargain with the owners as to price. 



This Season's Crop. 



During this year the total number of such baskets leaving this port has been about 

 26,000, with a total net weight of cocoons of over 80,000 piculs, or 10,666,667 pounds avoir- 

 dupois. Of these, more than 23,000 baskets were destined for Chefoo; the remainder for Japan. 

 The season's crop has been an unusually large one, owing chiefly to an allowance for losses which 

 did not occur. Last year the bees, inveterate enemies of the young larvse, killed, it is estimated, 

 one-half the worms placed on the trees ; so this year, to provide for this heavy toll upon their 

 output, the producers started double the number of worms that they expected to mature into 

 cocoons. Then, as the bees did not return to their former hunting-grounds, the farmers found 

 that by some extra labour in guarding and providing food for their more numerous wards they 

 were able to count an unexpectedly numerous family of grown-ups when the evening of the 

 year rolled round. * 



LEWIS S. PALEN, 



Acting Commissioner of Customs. 



CUSTOM HOUSE, 

 ANTUNG, MANCHURIA, "jth December 1907. 



