The Trepang Fishery. 



115 



trepang were received at different ports in China in Chinese 

 vessels : — 



Chukiang 



Swatow ... ... 



Kiukiang 



Takow ... 



Tamsui 



Ningpo ... ... 



2742 



And Shanghai and Foochow receive together about 6000 

 to 7000 piculs. 



It is difficult to form an estimate as to the amount of 

 trepang annually exported from the North Australian coast. 

 From 30 to 40 prahus, varying from^ao to 70 tons burthen, 

 are employed in the fishery, the crews amounting to about 

 1200 men. They receive no wages, but are entitled to a 

 certain portion of the profits of the voyage, the system 

 being somewhat similar to that adopted in whale-ships. 

 The provisions and stores required for the voyage are 

 advanced by Chinese or Dutch merchants at Macassar 

 who thus acquire a right to the entire proceeds at a certain 

 price which has previously been fixed upon, and which is 

 invariably much below the current value. Taking the 

 average amount of trepang obtained by each prahu at 2C 

 tons, this will give about 600 tons as the quantity annually 

 exported from the coast. The value at Macassar is 70 rupees, 

 or somewhat less than £f sterling, for the picul of 133 lbs. 

 avoirdupois. The price to the consumer in China is en- 

 hanced to the amount of about one-third. 



