

8 Report of Schimmel § Co. April/October 1917. 



powder are quite good enough, these qualities are imported into India in increasing 

 quantities, thus supplanting the refined product. 

 The production in Formosa amounted to: — 



3.116 million kilos in 1910, 2.7 million kilos in 1911, 2.4 million kilos in 1912. 

 The output of refined camphor in Japan itself was: — 



2319 million kins to the value of 2029 million yen in 1913/14, 

 3114 „ „ „ „ „ „ 2867 „ „ „ 1914/15. 



Formosa exported for: — 



5.529 million yen in 1910, 4.856 million yen in 1911, 5.814 million yen in 1912. 

 The production and sale of camphor oil in Formosa showed the following figures, 

 respectively: — 



in 1910: 3.31 million kilos, in 1911: 3.18 million kilos, in 1912: 3.71 million kilos, 

 „ 1910: 3.96 „ „ , „ 1911: 1.91 „ „ , „ 1912: 1.21 „ „ . 



The chief quantities of camphor and camphor oil in Formosa are manufactured 

 in private refineries (?) which belong to 6 Japanese and 9 natives, respectively, and 

 they in turn control 5753 small producers. About 9000 workers are employed in 

 collecting the raw material and in extracting the camphor. The crude camphor is 

 taken over and refined by the Government. The export for the Government is effected 

 by the Mitsui Bussan. 



When the monopoly was introduced in Formosa, in 1899, it was thought that it 

 practically meant the control of the world's market; but as owing to the monopoly the 

 prices went up, the production in Japan and South China was fostered and encouraged. 

 The output in the private forests of Japan rose very much, owing to destructive 

 exploitation regardless of the future, the tree-stumps and roots being dug up and 

 extracted. At present there are scarcely any camphor trees left in private hands in 

 Japan. The number of trees existing there is estimated at 10 millions, the yield of 

 which is considered to come up to about 2.4 million cubic feet (?). In Formosa, the 

 camphor trees not under 100 years old are supposed to represent 27 million (?) cubic feet 

 which ought to yield 19.2 million (?) kilos of camphor and 14 million kilos of camphor 

 oil. As the trees must be more than 60 years old before they yield reasonable quantities 

 of camphor, it is possible that, unless due care be taken, within a few decennaries no 

 mature trees will be left. 



American commercial quarters consider the fact that the shipments of crude 

 camphor to the U. S. have been stopped as a proof of the Japanese Government's 

 intention to use the monopoly in order to foster the Japanese refineries at the cost 

 of those in other countries. In 1916, the North American refineries held very small 

 stocks of crude camphor, so that they had to buy the refined product in order to fill 

 their contracts. No official explanation was given by Japan as to why the supplies 

 of crude camphor to the U. S. were suspended. Needless to say, it is possible that 

 Japan means to extend its monopoly also to the refined product, so as to obtain a 

 complete control of. this branch of commerce. Taking into consideration Japanese 

 methods of fostering the home industries, it is probable that this way was chosen in 

 order to cause an extension of the refineries. 



The production of camphor in Japan in the year closing on March 31 st , 1917 is 

 estimated at 1627422 kins: an increase of 26607 kins, as compared with the production 

 of the year 1915/16. The estimation regarding Formosa amounts to 5014743 kins, 

 representing an increase of 394561 kins above the quantity of the preceding year. 



