12 



The United States Government had instructed its consuls in Japan 

 and Formosa to supply reports on the camphor - industry of those 

 countries, and received from its consul at Tamsui (Formosa) a com- 

 prehensive report, which represents a historical review of the camphor- 

 industry since the introduction of the monopoly (August 1899), an d 

 which, in addition to well known facts, also mentions interesting novel- 

 ties, as we find from an article in The Chemist and Druggist. 1 ) 



The consul attributes the scarcity of crude camphor during the 

 last two years to the fact, that in consequence of the Russo-Japanese 

 war only a limited supply of labour was available in the forests; the 

 cessation of hostilities had no doubt brought some improvement in the 

 situation, but the consul, Mr. Fisher, does not believe that normal 

 conditions will return until the end of 1906. The Formosa Govern- 

 ment has engaged 2000 policemen and labourers to develop an area 

 of 180 square miles with important camphor-forests in Northern For- 

 mosa; the Government also assists the opening up of districts in South 

 Formosa. With regard to this, the shortage in the supply for the 

 current year (1905) is estimated at 2400000 lbs., and for 1906 at 

 1 000000 to 1500000 lbs. 



The Japanese Government does not propose to raise the prices 

 of crude camphor (although in case of urgent need it might be 

 compelled to do so), in order not to stimulate still further the chemical 

 research on the subject of the production of synthetic camphor. 

 Whether synthetic camphor will be able to compete with the natural 

 product when normal conditions again prevail in Japan and Formosa, 

 is an open question. Manufacturers of celluloid will be interested to 

 learn that it is reported that the manufacture of this article may 

 ultimately be taken up in Japan. 



With regard to the further state of affairs in Formosa, Fisher 

 mentions that although the wages are very low, the transport of the 

 crude material is extremely difficult. According to recent experiments, 

 crude camphor can also be obtained from twigs and leaves, and it is 

 the intention of the Monopoly-office to make use of this method as 

 soon as the trees planted have reached their seventh year. Anyhow, the 

 quantity of camphor produced in this manner will only form a small 

 proportion of the total production. 



The contract with the selling agents (Messrs. Samuel, Samuel & Co., 

 London) runs until March 1906, and will probably be renewed. The 

 scarcity of crude camphor exists since the end of 1903, and since 

 that time the demand for crude camphor has been covered by imme- 

 diate production, which this year was considerably lower. If no 



*) Chemist and Druggist 67 (1905), 975. 



