This shows the enormous gain of 168 per cent., though this is
slightly modified by the fact that the report for 1904 includes
goods to the value of 402,639 taels carried by Chinese vessels
which, though plying between native and foreign ports, were
not formerly reported through the customs. According to
official reports,[26] the foreign trade of China has been growing
rapidly during recent years, the only falling off having been
in the Boxer outbreak year 1900. In 1891, the imports into
China were, in round numbers, 134,000,000 taels and the
exports were 101,000,000, a total of 235,000,000, and an
excess of imports of 33 per cent. In 1904 the imports had
advanced to 344,060,608 taels and the exports to 239,486,683
taels, a total of 583,547,291 taels, an increase of 148 per cent.
and an excess of imports of 44 per cent. In 1899 the total
foreign trade of China had reached 460,000,000 taels. The
next year it dropped to 370,000,000 taels, but in 1901 it sprang
to 438,000,000 taels, and has advanced nearly 150,000,000
taels within the past three years.[27]


[26] ``Returns of Trade for 1904,'' published by the Maritime Customs
Department of China.

[27] ``Returns of Trade for 1904,'' published by the Maritime Customs
Department of China.


The share of the United States is larger than one might infer
from the reports, as no inconsiderable part of our trade goes to
China by way of England and Hongkong and is often credited to