260
24. The 254 Foreign ships carried 1,626 officers of whom 202 were British as follows:-
In Chinese ships,
""
17
Japanese French
71
""
Dutch German
11
.109
74
4
14 1
The proportion of Britishers in Foreign vessels was therefore 12 % distributed under 4 different flags of which the Chinese takes over 6%; the 14 officers who appear in Dutch ships, however, are chiefly those serving on board two British ships the Stentor and Palinurus which for some purpose have been temporarily placed under the Dutch flag.
25. Of the crews of these European Constructed Vessels--
14% were Britishers. 14% other Europeans.
Asiatics.
72%
})
77.
TRADE.
26. The year has been marked in the second half by a shortness in the Southern rice crop; an import of 578,770 tons was reported up to 30th June; the total for the year was only 704,530 tons. This falling off, in addition to reducing the totals for our European Constructed Vessels, was also very clearly marked in the Junk trade, which in the last quarter of the year showed a decrease compared with 1895 of 1,642 vessels of 69,010 tons. From March to July inclusive, Hongkong was under- going quarantine at Singapore, Manila, and the Northern Ports. With the exception, however, of Manila the enforcement of Quarantine Regulations was made as little irksome as practicable.
27. It is also very apparent that the total amount of cargo to be carried does not increase as rapidly as the tonnage available for its conveyance, principally owing to the enormous carrying capacity of a great number of the newer ships. This, combined with keen competition, places tonnage at the disposal of shippers in excess of what is actually required, consequently vessels cannot obtain full cargoes and are glad to accept low rates of freight to fill up vacant space.
28. The principal sufferers from such a condition of things will no doubt be the "outside" tramp steamers which occasionally appear and frequently are found laid up for want of work. During the third quarter of the year there were 7 British ships aggregating 12,039 tons laid up in the harbour for periods varying from 23 to 86 days.
29. In Returns I. and II. will be found the number and register tonnage of all vessels entering and clearing between this Colony and each country with which trade relations exist, and the amount of cargo reported as "shipped," discharged," and "in transit," to and from these various countries.
30. The accuracy or otherwise of these returns, so far as cargo is concerned, depends entirely on the reliability of the information afforded to this Department on application made to the Master, and În some cases to the Agents, of vessels concerned.
31. The Chamber of Commerce noted "some apparent errors" in the Returns furnished in my last Annual Report, and they were apprehensive that these might prove "misleading," and the question arose in their mind whether it was worth while attempting to make the Return at all.
32. It is not surprising to know that "apparent errors" can be discovered in Returns compiled as these are. Indifference, want of knowledge, and commercial jealousy, will probably always militate against accurate information being supplied; but in order as far as possible to prevent the Returns being "misleading" the sources of the information on which they depend are clearly stated. It rests, I think, to a great extent with those who are principally concerned with the correct- ness of the Return, if they possess the means for so doing, to assist in preventing the same from being anything less than accurate, in the meanwhile there appears no good reason for relinquishing the attempt to present a Return which though not absolutely correct, is as nearly so as circumstances will permit, and which, as it stands, may be considered a useful indication of the nature and volume of the trade of the Colony.
33. An interesting review of the trade is obtained by a classification of Returns I. and II. as follows:-
Class
I. Vessels that trade to and from Europe and distant Countries, such as,-
Canada.
Cape of Good Hope.
Continent of Europe. Great Britain.
Mauritius.
Sandwich Islands.
South America, United States,